Hi I just purchased a carbon road bike in December. I narrowed my choices down to the Trek 5.0 Pilot and the Specialized Ruby Expert. I also live in SF and tested these bikes going up a very steep hill! The Ruby did a better job of climbing and was more $$ but at the sale price, I got a deal on an 2007 bike.

I tried just about every brand of carbon road bikes in the $2000 range and in the end just felt like the Specialized bikes fit my body better. As another poster stated... the right bike will just stand out and you will know that is the one! Good Luck!