Hi!
I was looking around for forums and sites that are specially for women, and I found this! Great!

Now I just want to add a comment to your discussion regarding the search of a new roadbike.
I'm 5'3 and my budget is limited, $1500 maximum. If I had been living in the US, that wouldn't be a problem, I would get a very good Trek WSD for that money!
However, here in Sweden the cheapest roadbike with Shimano 105 (my minimum requirement) is $2400!!
I can however order a bike from somewhere else in Europe, Germany for example, but the Trek 1500 WSD (with Ultegra) costs $2000.

It's too bad that the American stores don't do shipping of Trek-bikes over seas....

Just wanted to tell you that you dont know how lucky you are!
But, I have a nice one i sight, Canyon WRX Road Lite Elite http://www.canyon-bike.de (€999 = $1300), and I hope it will answer to my expectations of a first road bike....