Quote Originally Posted by Mindyhubby
The bike will go to our son who's almost the same size as Mindy, so I don't want to modify it too much considering he'll grow out of it in time.
The shims are very inexpensive and may make your growing boy very happy at this time of his life and removed later. It would also give your wife an opportunity to test this fix. If she has problems reaching the brake levers now, a women's specific geometry isn't going to change that. I don't believe the shims can be used with Dura Ace so it would be an easy and cheap test to help out your wife while making a very expensive decision.

What is it she likes about the other carbon bike and why do you like the Ruby better? At 5'4", the WSD frame design can be nice but may not be critical as long as the bike fits. It is the components (levers, bar width, crank length, etc.) which are really critical. Has she had an opportunity to try both bikes?