My girlfriend got this bike last summer and has loved every minute she has been on it. I have ridden it a few times and it is a great bike. Came with tiagra and sora mix which works perfect for how she uses it. It is mostly used on workouts in the 30-80 mile range and has never encountered any problems. The folks at the shop gave her a fit as well so the bike is set up great. Specialized makes products superior to most others, so I highly reccomend this bike to any woman looking to get into the sport. Plus, the great quality makes it a joy to work on and tinker with. She has used it a a few crit races in the Driveway Series in Austin, which would be fun on any kind of bike, and she said it rode great. The frame is nice and stiff without being harsh. And the feminine colors are always a plus. She is about 5 ft 6 inches and the 52cm frame fits her perfectly. It also came with a really comforatble yet minimalist seat that is comfortable even after 3 or 4 hours in the saddle. 

motoman9191

College Station, TX

I had this bike for about 1 year before I sold it.  It may appear that I did not like the bike, but nothing could be further from the truth.  The bike was an excellent introduction into the sport of road cycling and got me so hooked that I wanted to upgrade to another bicycle (and consequently didn't need this bicycle). One of the first distinguishing characteristics of road bicycles is the frame material.  The frame in this bicycle is made of aluminum.  Aluminium has it's strengths and weaknesses.  Often it is lighter than steel framed bicycles but not as light as carbon fiber frames.  I initially looked at carbon fiber frames but decided against them because of their potential to crack after a crash (or any type of accident really)  The damage done to a carbon fiber frame can be difficult to detect and could fail, seemingly "out of nowhere",  compared to frames made with metal. The components used on this bike were Shimano 105, which is a solid group that has the function of the higher level groups with some added weight. What drew me to this bike, over others was the geometry of the frame and the fact that it came in very small (so would call it petite) sizes.  Getting the proper fit is crucial to a rider's long term enjoyment.

JamieOliver

Philadelphia, PA

I bought the Specialized Dolce Elite bicycle because I was training for a long-distance fundraising ride in which I would be spending six hours in the saddle at a time, riding up to 100 miles at a time,  at all hours of the day and night.  I did not have a woman-specific bicycle before the Dolce Elite and let me tell you the difference is amazing.  I no longer feel stretched out when I am riding long distances and my shoulders no longer get sore because the handlebars are closer together than they were with my old bicycle.  I love the carbon frame -- it makes for an extremely smooth ride and lightweight bike, which makes loading and unloading much easier than with my old aluminum frame bicycle.  The gears change smoothly and the braking is gentle.  I had the saddle switched out for a different one so I can't review the saddle that comes with it, but I am sure it is similar in quality and design.  

SusieQ42

Greenville, SC

The Specialized Dolce Elite is a beautiful bike. It's such a smooth ride, and a perfect fit. It was made for a woman, and you can feel the difference with the narrower handlebars, slightly smaller frame and it being so lightweight is icing on the cake!

kizat

Houston, TX