Have you bought your bike yet? I went through the same search for the last year or so, but became really serious about it at the beginning of the year. Although I like the geometry of the Specialized Dolce, the price to get the Shimano components made the purchase price more than what I was comfortable paying. I ended up with the exact same Giant Avail that you are/were looking at and the tangerine is indeed sassy looking. The bike shop I made my purchase from exchanged the stock stem for a shorter one, thereby bringing my handlebars closer to my body, which for me, makes my ride more comfortable and seems a bit more like the Dolce. I'm still grappling with the seat that came with my bike as apparently I have wide "sit bones" (otherwise known as a large butt). I have been looking lustfully at the Brooks Saddles, but am unsure of whether I think they are really better than other saddles or I just think they sound cool. If you have any questions about the bike, feel free to ask.