I've never ridden a road bike but I did make the progression from a very inexpensive mountain bike to a hybrid and so far love riding. I now want to upgrade to something more light-weight and faster... a road bike, basically. As I've never ridden a road bike I am looking for something entry-level (maybe $1k, not too much more). The problem is that I just recently moved from Santa Barbara (bike central) to the 562 area of Los Angeles and I have no clue where to buy a road bike at a shop that sells women's road bikes to test out. I don't want to buy a road bike blind, special order, without ever test riding it. I'm also only 5 feet so I'd probably need a 43 sized bike... which makes it even harder!

Would anyone be able to recommend a bike shop in the Los Angeles area that sells really small WSD road bikes? Also, I'd lovelovelove personal recommendations for an entry-level (maybe alum frame, a few carbon parts).