Congrats, looks like a solid little bike! Don't be afraid to play with the fit. You can move around the stem, saddle, and handlebar, or swap them. I've never really stopped playing with the fit of my bikes.

Here I was disappointed you'd gone with the non-disc model...nice bike.

My coworker replaced her old diamondback commuter with a new Felt Verza Speed. She is small framed and it fits well even with 650 sized wheels. She got it on sale as it was an outgoing model, almost 50% off too. Find it on Felt's website under women's bikes. She likes the flat bars that comes with it, but has said good things about my bike's Metropolis W-shaped wrist friendly bars that I recently put on my bike (with an adjustable stem).

Thanks everyone! I've used it last week for a couple of days and for the moment it feels right. I am going slow as I need to build fitness and starting commuting only 2 days a week and building up to 5 days hopefully not long.

Congrats on the new bike!

I also have a hard time with most mountain bike or hybrid handlebars for much the same reason. They just make me ache by the end of a long ride. I have to point that you live in the UK and chose a west coast US manufacturer. I live about 30 mins from Novato (Marin's headquarters) and I'm trying to locate a Pashley (or other omafiet 8 speed) here locally. Just gave me a giggle.

Gwyn