Quote Originally Posted by Muirenn View Post
How about something like a Surly Troll built with drop bars and smooth tires? Would be an excellent commuter. Should have better stand over than a cross, anyway. And is available as a frame set so you can build exactly as you want. It uses 26" tires, which could be an advantage in fit. (Or maybe a Salsa Vaya, the size 50 has a 50 cm tt, and fits a lot of more petit TE'ers well). They aren't aluminum, but I can't think of any aluminum equivalent that might fit. (Unless, check Kona maybe?).

Any of those old-style rigid mountain bike frame sets could work as a converted cross with lower clearance.

Vaya is available is three builds and frame sets at different price points. Cheapest is about 1400, most expensive 3.5 grand.
http://salsacycles.com/bikes/vaya
Well, if you're looking at setting up a Troll with drop bars, why not just get a Long Haul Trucker? That comes with drop bars already, will probably be a lot more efficient to ride on roads (never ridden a Troll but that bike seems to be more off-road oriented and probably not as much fun to ride on pavement) and comes in small sizes with 26" wheels to fit short people without having toe overlap. I am a little under 5' 3" and ride a 46 cm. Another nice bike that seems like it would suit your intended use is the Bianchi Volpe, which also comes in small enough sizes for shorter people (I test rode the 46 cm which fit well). It has 700c wheels but I don't remember noticing major toe overlap during the test ride. However, it is another steel frame which you said you weren't sure you wanted.