stapfam:
I hear what you're saying. I've read some complaints about the avid mech brakes and the amount of maintence required. I'm also a little concerned about accelerating from a stoplight with a 39-26 low gear. If it was 34-26 I'd be alot less concerned. My training will stay focused on weightloss until I'm well below my target weight so raw power is not something I can effectively train for.

I'm O'K' with the idea of paying a little more to keep the local LBS open as I went to highschool with the owner and have many friends in common. The problem is his market is really lowend Giant bikes. I'm not saying Giant bikes are lowend just the models he sells. He wanted to sell me a Sedona which was the best bike he had.The Trek dealer in a nearby town promised the world and delivered the bare minimum as far as after the sale service. No adjustments to fit me, a free 15 minute tune-up while he hard sold me on list priced Bontrager accessories. He also sold me a 20" bike. I'm 6'2" tall. I think he sold me the 20" 7300 because he had one at his other store. Does Trek really have next day delivery on "ordered" Bikes?

I didn't discover Bikeforums until after I bought my first bike. Had I found this site beforehand I would have made different decisions. I really like this sub-group but rarely post here as compared to you guys I'm such a noob. Over on Clydes I post often as on the subject of weightloss I feel like the wise old man preaching patience and sustainable change. You know... old fart talk.