Dear Seraye,

Thanks so much for your reply. It's awfully helpful, especially since you have experience fitting women AND know something about the probable fit of the Bryant.

As you can tell by my choices, I'm a bit torn about the type of bike to get. I'm increasing my commute to 15 miles each way and plan to do the round trip most days, in all weathers. So on the one hand, I am attracted to an all weather commuter with disc brakes and belt drive. On the other hand, 15 miles currently takes 1 hr, 15 mins on my Jamis Aurora (in the uphill direction---it's quite a hilly route). I would really like to shave off some time and hoped a speedier road bike tarted up with a rack and minimal fenders would perhaps allow me do shave off 10-15 mins.

But I've had lots of trouble with fit before. And my Jamis Aurora (50cm) has always been too big for me, so I worry the Bryant would put me in the same place, fit-wise.

So my ideal bike would: A) fit me! B) be faster than my Aurora over the hilly 15 mile commute C) be comfortable for 2 hrs of riding a day AND D) have a belt drive and maybe disc brakes. It's a tall order, I'm afraid. But if I can't have it all, I know I need to at a minimum have a good fit.

Thanks also for the recommendations. I've tried the Long Haul Trucker and even the smallest size was way too long in the top tube. At my LBS, I tried a Surley Pacer that belonged to the bike mechanic's petite girlfriend. I liked it, but as I remember it had no eyelets for a rack, which is a dealbreaker.

I would be interested to know the prices for the Gunnar and the Salsa, but of course you can't find that on the website. How much do complete bikes go for?

Thanks for any advice you care to share. This is a tough process.

S