I can't stress enough to try as many bikes as you can to find the right bike. I found a great deal on a Trek Madone 4.5 in the late Spring. I rode it and it seemed to be a good fit. After riding it for about a month, I realized that it was a little too aggressive of a stance for some of the distance riding I like to do.

I bit the bullet and went out looking for a better match for me. I swear I rode almost every brand. I ended up with a Specialized Ruby Comp with a compact double. The bike shop did a fairly detailed fitting for me and ended up changing out the stem for me. I love my bike! My Trek had a triple but I don't feel like I'm missing anything gear-wise and it lightened up the bike.

Do any of the bike shops in your area offer demos? Renting a demo for a day can allow you to find out if the bike will work for you on longer distances.

I sold my Trek to a woman who was looking for a more aggressive WSD bike and she loved the Madone. It all worked out n the end!

Enjoy the search! I actually loved my second shopping expedition and enjoyed trying out all different kinds of bikes.