So, I'm shopping....

[velo]

Other bikes you could look at are the Cannondale Quick and Specialized Vita. They are both flat bar road bikes. The Vita is a womens' model and the Quick comes in a womens' version, so should both have narrower handlebars.

I ride occasionally with a woman who has the Specialized Vita. She is extremely happy with it, so I know there is at least one very satisfied customer for that particular bike. They look good, too.

[Geonz]

I will check!
I am going to test ride a 7.6 -- we had our bike club holiday dinner Sunday and my bike shop owner was there so we chatted about it... the 7.6 has a seat post with a little shock absorber... some of its reviews are pretty disdaining ("beginner-friendly but heavy") but we'll see. I should see what they say about the 7.5 FX... "heavy" to me is my cargo bike. (He also mentioned that its shock absorber is maintenance free and that, "just sayin'," that was important for me ... he wanted to know if I'd put the poor Gazelle into a salt bath and isn't sure it's rescuable...)
I am loyal to that shop (it's not that big a town; the other shop is just not as really into cycling, wouldn't give me a discount, and doesn't know my cycling hysteria -- i mean history ) and Specialized would be at The Other Place. I'd almost prefer an ugly bike (less likely to get swiped and more gratifying when I pass people )... but I do want to Think Beyond The FX...