Great first review, sounds like you've found very nice bike. I am wanting to buy a hybrid myself and am torn between the 8.5 and the Specialized Crosstrail Pro Disc. I've ridden the 2011 Montare and found it to be quite fast and light, but I was wondering how the Promax brakes would hold up over time; and, unfortunately, the Trek dealership here seems a little iffy. At the moment, the Crosstrails are unavailable where I live (as are the Trek 8 series DS bikes), so I'm waiting until I can compare both to make a decision. I'll be looking forward to reading more about your 8.5.
Last edited by Deathly Hallows; 08-20-11 at 01:14 PM.