I am a 5'0" tall female cyclist and have been riding a 50 cm Diamond Back tg road bike (chromoly -- beloved antique) for the past 20 years. The frame is a little large and I at times get numb hands and some neck discomfort. Mostly, it is just too heavy. My torso is average while my legs tend to be on the short side. I want to upgrade to a full carbon woman's bike and have tried 2007 Specialized Ruby Expert 44 and 48 cm frames and Cannondale Synapse Feminine 2 or 3, 47 cm frames. I am fit and can cycle 40 - 50 miles well but have spinal stenosis in my neck and osteoarthritis. I hope to find a light bike that I will ride for many years, that will not hyperextend my neck, and will offer some cushioning on rough roads. For fit, my main concern is the distance from seat to handlebars. I am able to clear the horizontal/upper bar with my legs on all 3 frame sizes. After test riding all three bikes above on the same day, I noticed some neck discomfort, but don't know which bike it came from! Any suggestions regarding how to find the best fit, other than how it feels, as well as input on whether the 44 cm frame is likely too small would be greatly appreciated. I plan to test ride the bikes on separate days to narrow down the culprit. Any recommendations for other 2007 (a.k.a. "on sale") carbon women's road bikes (Felt, Madone, etc.) would also be helpful. Thanks! Susan Luckenbach