Quote Originally Posted by ny biker View Post
Congrats on the charity ride!!

I"m quite happy with my WSD Madone. The most important thing is to find a bike that is the right size and geometry for you. For that, I think testing a base model would be sufficient. You just wouldn't know how the bike feels with higher level components, e.g., if shifting is smoother or different wheels help you ride faster.

I think the Silque is a updated version of the Domane, which is a different frame from the Madone, built with a bit more comfort in mind. A male friend has a Domane and he does find that it handles differently when cornering compared to a more race-oriented bike, though he seems to like and rides it often. You might want to try a Madone as well as the Silque to see if they feel different to you.
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I will have to try a Madone; our trip to the Trek store was spur of the moment and close to closing time, so we didn't spend a lot of time looking. I guess maybe base model wasn't exactly what I wanted to say. Other than the Trek store, no store has had any carbon women's bikes (DH thinks I should go with carbon). I'm not sure if I am a common or uncommon size but several stores have had a 44 and a 54 cm women's bike with nothing in stock in between. Based on the Trek and Jamis I have test rode, I am around a 50 cm at 5'4". Clearly, I have lots of trying out to do.