quote='Sonia' pid='38949' dateline='1593547550']
....Do you have any thoughts you would be willing to share on these two bikes:
https://amzn.to/2ZobdPF
and
https://amzn.to/3eZV7m5
I understand that not having seen the bikes (or me!) it would be impossible to offer a concrete judgement, but given my zero knowledge any thoughts you share would be useful to me....
[/quote]
Wow Sonia,
Some tough stuff to deal with given you are starting from scratch regarding road bikes in general, and also taking into consideration size, fit, etc.
Let's start with more than just your height; what is your inseam measurement? This is in regards to standover height; not as big a deal with newer bikes which have top tubes sloping downward nearer to the seat post.
The 2 bikes you linked to, although small frames (Tommaso 44cm, Cinelli 46cm) are completely different bikes excluding their prices. The Tommaso is definitely a "road bike", while the Cinelli is more of an "all terrain bike". Consider the tire sizes: Tommaso 700x25mm (approx. 27.5x1"); Cinelli 29x2.25" (approx. 737x57cm). You can go many places (but slower, with more effort, and less stable for straight up road riding/cornering) with those Cinelli equipped tires; but the Tommaso set-up is strictly road/ hard packed "smooth" dirt trail designed. You need to know exactly what you plan to use a bike for and the general speed you plan on riding at, whether now or in the near future, and the primary terrain/roads it will be used on; also, distance/time in the saddle. Tommaso: aluminum alloy frame with carbon fork; Cinelli "CroMo" frame and fork. If the Cinelli was the exact same size and price bike as the Tommaso; I'd recommend the Tommaso since you only stated wanting a road bike. Being that you are a novice road bike user there are many factors to consider after size/fit: saddle, pedals, bars, etc. Given that the women's bike I have is in your size range just like the Tommaso and Cinelli, you'd still have to consider handlebar types: bullhorn styles, drop styles, etc.; pedal types: "clipless" (road, mountain, hybrid), cage and strap, "rat trap", flat/platform; hybrid ("clipless" and flat), etc.; saddles: hard, soft, comfort, racing, cruiser, etc. You really need to get to a bike shop near you that may have a couple of used bikes at or near your size and get some test rides (30 min. or more) under your belt utilizing if you can different saddles, pedals and bar set-ups. It can be overwhelming, but if you plan on investing $500 or more you want make sure you can derive physical and psychological pleasure from it. Just a note: carefully read what comes with the bike (why l mentioned pedals and saddle regarding my bike); the Cinelli comes without pedals (a $50-$150 or more expense, not including shoes), the Tommaso comes with "flat" pedals, which are more than likely fairly inexpensive since they fully expect a buyer to be fitting their own specific choice either upon purchasing ( you already have some you've been using on another frame), or shortly thereafter. Also, realize certain pedals require a specialized shoe ($75-$200 or more), many which are not appropriate for casual walking around in ("clipless" primarily, but not exclusively).
I recommend you at least somehow manage to get your butt on a road bike somewhat close to your size (doesn't need to be perfect) and get some riding time in. If you were a friend looking to start road biking, I'd have you take my bike out for a couple days just to see the difference between riding a road bike and whatever else you've previously ridden, while letting you try it with different set-ups to "dial in" your comfort range. That would at least give you an idea of what you might be looking to buy regarding frame size and component build. It is DEFINITELY NOT like those TV ads you see of guys and gals pumping away on their "Peloton". Many of those folks probably never have or will ride a road bike; using your road bike on a trainer is closer to the real road experience since you can get on the road and have the same feel of the bike concerning your posture pedalling and more. Granted you won't experience how the bike will handle on the road, but you will get to know how your body feels after riding in or out of the drops or on aero bars. Try finding something, anything road worthy to burn out a couple miles and see how things feel braking, changing gears, climbing, etc.
Take care,
Jesper
PS. Or do like I did, found a new bike I could standover without a possible male related injury. Buy it, ride it, love it. I ended up taking that same bike on a 1500 mile solo tour about a year and a half later without making a change. Sometimes you just adapt to what is available at the time. Decades later I'm still doing the same thing with everything l get my hands on. I certainly have no experience with a "bag of bones", 1936 French road bike l'm building; l bought it, will build it, will ride it, and l already know I'll love it; but that's me!