I just got serious about biking but I only own a Specialized RockHopper mtb. Yesterday I rented a Dolce and it was the 1st time I used a road bike. The handlebars were not comfortable to me and I'm not sure if it's because of my inexperience. The upper "knobs" are shaped funny so that they dig into the webbing between your thumb and pointer finger. I could not find a comfortable place to put my hands except the down bars. Resting them on top on the flat part made my shoulders hurt, it felt too narrow (my shoulders are 16" wide).

I liked the bike except for the handlebars and shifting set up. However, I think the shifting will be similar on most road bikes. I am gonna ride a lot of bikes before I buy my 1st road bike (under $1000).

After reading many forum posts, it seems many brands have better components for less money than Specialized. Besides the handlebars, I liked the bike and fit (51"). I am 5'3 with short legs and long torso.