[QUOTE=Owlie;579234]I was wasting time at the LBS yesterday evening, looking at road bikes. I was talking with one of the employees about what I didn't like about my bike, and he suggested a closer look at the Specialized bikes (Cannondale apparently has the same problem as Giant--they think that shaving a centimeter or less off the top tube of each size makes it WSD...). The floor models were all 48cm or 51, but he found me a built-up 54cm Dolce. The reach is still a little bit long but easily in the "new stem" range.

I took it out for a test ride.

Oh dear.

While there aren't any appreciable hills near the LBS, my trip up the little incline felt so much easier. It felt faster. And my arms didn't ache!
I'm thinking a 54cm Ruby might be a nice graduation present after I finish this master's degree...

QUOTE]

I agree with Ultraviolet, you may need a slacker seat tube angle. My niece is picking up her new bike today. She had a bike fit before buying. She was leaning toward the Specialized Dolce, but, after the bike fit the Dolce's seat tube angle would have been too steep for her. Instead, she bought an Orbea.

BTW, you have one of the best bike fitter's in the country in Cincinnati. She's a Serotta Fit Institute trainer and really understands women's issues. Her name is Kathy Krumme and she's at Oakley Cycles in Oakley. I too loved my bike shop in Cincy when they did things right but Kathy straightened out their mistakes for me. BTW, I ended up spending more money than I would have if I had seen her in the first place.