I've been researching an reading various forums to try to educate myself on some of the basics, but I'm feeling like I need some advice from experienced riders. I'm 48 and feeling pretty out-of-shape - I'd like to lose about 20 pounds. I loved to bike ride when I was a teenager (still miss my yellow Schwinn 10-speed). I grew up around the flat Texas Gulf Coast, so gears weren't much of an issue unless the wind was really blowing. I've moved to Portland, OR and I find myself walking my bike up almost any hill. (Which is why I've been on my bike less than 5 times in 5 years.) Is it too much to want to have FUN and get in shape at the same time? (I think not!)

SO...I've decided to buy a new bike with a budget of about $1500 - $1700. I want a bike that is fun, comfortable, above average quality, and will help me get up the hills. At first I was leaning toward a touring bike, just to get the low gears, but the sales person at the LBS convinced me that a touring bike was probably overkill. I settled on a Specialized Dolce Comp Triple.

I rode tested some other bikes - Bianchi Volpe, Trek 2.1, Cannondale Synapse, and Specialized Sequoia & Tricross. I loved the Sequoia, but the Dolce was a better fit.

The Dolce has a 50/39/30 with a 12-27 cassette (Shimano 105).

Opinions please?? Does this seem like a good choice? MSRP is $1650, LBS price is $1550. Do I have enough low gears to get my (currently-out-of-shape) self up some pretty steep Portland hills? Do the components seem to be high enough quality for the price? Anything I should be concerned about?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Lori