I suggest you take test rides wherever you can ... or not. Really, come on .... if you ask about some bike component with which I happen to be familiar, I will try to help, but ... where to test-ride? On the Bike!!!
I don't know where you live, nor do I want to. I trust you can figure out where to ride .... and if you want to buy a bike without riding, at least put it in a stand or something and check it out ... shifting, brakes, wheels, BB, headset .... shake, rattle, and roll.
Test-ride it wherever you can. Maybe there is at least a cleared parking lot around? (Assuming you are in a snow-zone .... )
If not ... do what you can or do what you want.
Sorry if I seem a bit testy ... but hey, I could have told you to ship the bike to Hawaii and test it there.
