What a bummer on losing your bike. I almost know the feeling. On a trip home from Tahoe I heard my roof mounted front wheel carrier whistling, like it does without a wheel. Sure enough, it was gone, forever lost on Interstate 5 somewhere... I now bungee it in.

On the Specialized Expert: I have a 2010 and am absolutely in love with it. It leaves me less beat up than any of my other bikes did, and I have to admit that at 57 the slightly more relaxed position means my neck is completely comfortable after a century, or even a double.