Hey CAS, where do you live? I have a girlfriend in Piacenza who also rides.

You have a very common problem for women. We have long legs compared to our arms and torsos, so we are given bikes that are too big for us. We have the same problem here and if you keep reading, you will find dozens of us here on TE who are experiencing exactly what you are experiencing.

What i found that might help you in Italy is that they do have some smaller bikes that fit women, you just have to look for them. While it's true that you can adjust your own bike somewhat, if you go too far, your bike will not handle as well for you.

Good luck and welcome to TE?