I bought my optima baron online from canada and had never even sat on the bike. No matter which bent you get, there will be a learning curve. Just about anything I get on other than the baron feels wierd. I really like the praying hamster position rather than the superman bars. Over 8000 miles between 2 barons now and a little over 3000 miles on the velokraft vk2 racer. If you are going for the cool and fast, I wouldn't look any further than a baron. I know 5 guys now that never were able to try the baron first. They love the bikes and won't give them up. Rans rocket.........nah....not cool
just an idea, get the wife the catrike.......... I got mine a catrike speed. get the drift. you get a baron, then you can still ride the catrike from time to time if of course she doesn't have really short legs.