Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) is Canada's version of REI. They have a new line of bikes which (on paper) look good. The nearest store is a 1.5 hour drive from where I live. Before I make the trip I wanted to get some opinions from the forum. I am considering purchasing 2 new bikes over the next year; a year-round commuter that can handle all types of weather, and a road bike that I would use for commuting and/or light touring in fairer weather (although it would have to be okay if I got caught in the rain.) So here are the two bikes I'm considering:

For my all-weather commuter the MEC Hold Steady and for comparison to another bike I have been considering for this purpose the Trek Soho.

For the road/light touring bike the MEC Cote and for comparison the Kona Jake.

I posted the Canadian versions of the American-made bikes for comparison in Canadian dollars. I tried to pick bikes that were similarly equipped but what I'm really asking is, do you think I should make the trip to check these bikes out? The Trek and Kona offerings are available here in town, so for future issues concerning the bikes I'd only have to travel as far as the LBS and not have to put the bike on a rack to drive 1.5 hours out of town. Thanks for your input, and ride safe!