The cheapest option is just pushing on the pedals a little harder!!! Sorry-couldn't resist. My LBS gave me that line when I complained about my cadence dropping into the low 60's with my 34/27. I feel you pain.
By the way, changing the gearing on the bike you really like is not that big of a deal.....Another option is looking for a triple with a 50/39/30 front chainring and replacing the rear derailleur with an XT or equivalent mountain bike RD. You can then put on a Mtn bike rear cassette and you have the best of all worlds. You would need to make sure the gearing is set up for 9 speeds and not 10 speed though-I don't think there are 10 speed set-ups in mtn bikes yet but I could be mistaken. LBS would probably make the changes on a new bike for just the labor cost which is nothing-should be less than 30 mins time.