Maybe I feel like being "provocative" today, but I get the sense that a lot of posters feel you can't be a serious cyclist if you ride a WSD bike. Really?
Let me state that I don't ride a WSD bike. I let myself get talked into buying something else. No one else's fault but my own. I will give the shop owner credit for exchanging the frame of the original bike I bought for an x-small frame in a different model of the same make, 2 years later. I know it involved him realizing that I was going to blab all over town about what cr*ppy service he gave me, after dropping some serious cash for my bike. At the time I made the switch, I had to do all my own research to solve my reach/brake problem. Thanks to everyone at TE, I am now able to ride in the drops (well, other than my own fear going down steep hills!). I went out and bought a new bar at another shop and also had them order me short reach brifters. Why should I have to have done this? If he had shown me a bike that came with some of the things I needed, I would have been better off. But, no, he had to push the Italian frames that he can make a big profit on.
I had 2 WSD bikes before this. Yes, they had 650 wheels, but, I didn't care. I am not a racer, but I am someone whose lifestyle revolves around cycling, and I am serious about it. Serious to have fun, that is. So, when a magazine is showing WSD bikes, I am interested, even though I won't be buying another road bike for a long time.
My mountain bike is not WSD and again, it is too big for me. Not terrible, but definitely could have gone smaller. My around town bike, a Jamis, is the best fitting bike I have. It's a WSD flat bar road bike that is made for a short person! Funny, it is also the cheapest of the 3. Of course, everyone is entitled to his/her opinions, and of course, not all women are built for a WSD bike. But, again, let's not make assumptions about what anyone needs. I just wish I could go into a shop and be listened to. You can bet the LBS owner where I bought my bike listens to me now, but I had to be somewhat threatening to get there!