I've been kicking the wheels on a number of road bikes for a few months - never finding anything that was really comfortable, but making progress in my "discovery" of compact geometry frames. As noted in another thread, these aid me by allowing me to ride a larger frame despite having short legs. I can ride a 54cm compact frame wherein I have a hard time using anything larger than a 48cm in a traditional horizontal top tube frame.

Compact frames with shorter top tubes, such as those used in the Trek Pilot series, have been the most comfortable. However I don't find drop bars comfortable ... if you get them high enough they are better but still not comfortable.

I also tried out a few bikes that had flat bars and didn't like those either.

Now the recent thread on alternate / comfortable handlebars has me thinking in a different direction. What attracts me to the road bikes is their wonderful lightness and responsiveness. I've been thinking, okay, what is the least offensive road bike that I might be able to tolerate on a ride. Well, perhaps the best compromise solution would be to pick up a bike that is light, with carbon fork & seatpost and lightweight frame, but then give up on the drop bars and go with something like a "Mary" or "North Road" handlebar.

This would be a significant change to a road bike that came with a drop bar, but a much easier adaptation to a flat bar road bike. Where the thumb shifters and brakes could likely just be moved onto the new handlebar. Mount the bar on a more upright stem. Most of these bikes have long cables that would probably have enough length to handle it.

Maybe a bike like a Specialized Sirrus Comp, which has the compact frame, carbon fork & seatpost, and even a 4-position stem. I rode one of these last fall and hated it, using the standard flat bar. But with the more comfortable bar, and a wider seat (hey, maybe even a Brooks), with the stem raised to its max position, it might make a big difference.

The result would not be a really sleek fast bike as I would be riding in a more upright position. But I suspect it would be a quicker ride than my 30+ pound hybrids.

I find it interesting to ponder these things. This forum provides a lot of food for thought. I put in an order for both a Mary and North Road handlebar - just to give me something to play with. With three DF bikes to experiment upon, I can get an idea of how comfy (or not) I find these bars.