Quote Originally Posted by bikermomma View Post
My problem is comparing the dolce to a trek road bike and being able to know this one has more for bang the buck and so forth.
The better one is the one that fits you. You can replace components. Find the bike that fits you and buy the top level component group you can afford. Wheels, shifters and rear derailleur are the most expensive to swap out (and in that order) -- and wheels will make a big impact on the ride quality.