$1700 budget, tall(er) gal...what to buy?

[silver]

I'm 5'8" and have 2 bikes:
aluminum Trek 1000 size 58cm
carbon Trek Madone 5.0 size 58 cm

neither is WSD. The only mod to get a good fit for me was to shorten the stem from 110 mm to 90 mm.

I have long legs and an average body. My inseam is 33/34 inches. I had a bike shop guy insist that I could only ride a WSD once. Very frustrating since I feel very comfy on my non-WSD bike.

but the geometry on every bike is different.

Oh, I ride longer rides too. I rode 80 miles today on the 1000. But I don't think that I really understand how steel would compare with aluminum and carbon. I've never ridden a steel one.

[whippetgirl]

I am a new rider, but I did spend a good deal of time trying out several bikes. This forum is great for info.
I am 5'7" with long legs (inseam 34") and ended up with a Bianchi Eros 56 cm (it has a triple and Campy). My budget was set lower than yours,and I did try both the bikes you mentioned and liked both of them very much. I just got a good deal on the Eros.
I will add two points to the other great advice already given. Ride the bikes for at least 5 miles and try a hill. My LBS recommended, when seeing me on the bike, that I go with a 56 even though it seemed by measuring me that I needed the lower size. They were right. The 56 definitely felt better when I took it out for a "test drive."
Good luck!

[Offthegrid]

Lots of great responses here. As you can see, there is no one single bike that is THE bike for taller women. Have fun and ride a bunch. Let us know what you end up picking and then post lots of pictures of your new beauty.

[northstar]

I just came home with my new Trek 5000. The guy at the shop I worked with was fantastic. I rode tons of bikes and he switched stems, saddles, etc. until I found "the one." It wound up being a 54" WSD...It feels amazing!

Thanks for all the input! It was very helpful!