Thanks for the responses!

I'm planning on getting some Ergon grips that will hopefully give me enough hand position options.

I tried out all the bikes today and none of the women's bikes really fit me right. For both the Coda and the Absolute it was very noticeable that the men's version fit better.

I think I'm going to go with either the Jamis Coda (men's) or the Raleigh Cadent FT1 (men's). The second was not on my original list, but was another I tried today and liked.

The fit of both is very comfortable, so I think it comes down to a decision between steel and aluminum. I carried both up and down some stairs, and that aspect's not going to be a problem. I also rode both on a bumpy road and the difference is very noticeable, but I have no experience of how this will translate over a long period of time on a less bumpy road. I also don't know exactly how much a heavier bike will slow me down. So for me, it's a tough decision to make at this point.