Quote Originally Posted by lcinva View Post

3. The WSD confuses me anyway. I get it, but what I'm having a hard time understanding is what specific parts I could look at between a WSD and a unisex and say "oh, that's why it fits me differently". I think I have a long-ish torso (that's what seamstresses say when fitting me)...maybe I have short arms? I'm 5'7'' with a 32" inseam. So, maybe I don't really have a long torso, I just have no hips and they think I do. I don't know, but everyone talks about how the WSD bikes are for more petite people, and that's not me. I don't get why they fit me so well. It makes me think they DON'T fit me well and I'm actually all scrunched up and just don't know it yet. So what really changes with women's geometry? top tube length? I was told the Dolce and Ruby have the same geometry, but the measurements on the Specialized website weren't the same. I rode the Ruby and while it was really nice, it wasn't quite as good fit wise as the Dolce. I don't know if that was a geometry thing (but it shouldn't be, everyone says they're the same geometry) or just the bike tweaked a little bit.

Sorry this is so long. It's just so overwhelming, and unfortunately I'm one of those neurotic people that has to over-research everything before buying. Any advice about any of this would be awesome. Thanks!
Don't worry. I'm the same way.
Re: WSD. I'm about your height and inseam. In many brands, I do need the WSD, though I can often easily use a size smaller than what I need based on my leg length alone in a unisex frame. Go with the bike that feels right. At our height, there's not a lot of difference between the unisex frame and the WSD in most brands anyway. Maybe a top tube that's a bit shorter.

And no, the geometry of the Ruby and Dolce are not the same. They used to be, but then Specialized introduced the Amira and retooled the Ruby into a purely plush carbon bike.
I don't feel any slower on a WSD bike. I can go faster and further because I don't feel like my shoulders and neck are going to give out.