Sorry folks, had to go teach a class, now back and want to continue.
So, after I had some "feel" on the goods, I dove back into the internet seeking, read, lurking, treads that were directed in some of the direction I was leaning.
Then another round of stops to reinforce or blow away lingering concepts.
The greater or lesser shops, where service was poor and the staff acted like "Oh, you're not spending $7k on one of our super scoots" then fend for yourself situations, I crossed off my list as after sale support is important to me.
Only 3 stops, one being the very shop that's closest to me, another one about 15 miles away, but near a Dive shop I frequent weekly and then to a planned third.
The first is a Specialized and Trek dealer. The second, is a Cannondale and lesser brands shop. Third is Giant and etc brands.
At the first, I reviewed the choices, at $400 a 7spd Hybrid, steel and twist, big fat old man seat. A Crosstour I believe it was called, near $470 still not my vision. Next a spiffy 29er MB switched to smooth tires and nicer trigger shifter, nice paint and "cool" look and $580 tag, but after a ride it was just too twitchy.
When the staff guy asked me if he could catch a quick call while I continued to look around. (Very nice that he asked me, and I mean that) I walked around looking at STUFF. LOL, great fun.
As I rounded the end rack of 4 bikes, one of them jumped out at me.
So this is the Sirrus that many of you were writing about. So what caught my eye ??? First it was the paint scheme. Kind of a matt grey/gun-metal. the styling was very smooth, with some curves, nice bars and stem and look some real bar ends that did not need adding later.
Also seat was stylish, somewhat real for an older guy like me, but not Big-Butt design. Big roller wheels too!
AND DISC BRAKES !!!! very, very cool....... one of the items high on my list.
So this bike is more roadie than dirty, that's good, very stylish vs ToadSquat or TinyTube, that's very cool AND I look at the little tag..it's only $770 .... BOOM, down I went in flames.
This bike reminded me of one of Foose's customs, like a chopped 49 Merc, cool paint and subdued graphics and great brakes..... but out of my price range.
So the sales guy walks back over and says "Oh, yea" he was going to show me that one but had forgotten, I believed him as we had been in a different section of the bike racks. He reaches over, lifts it up and sits it down in front of me. DAMN, I just blew my budget by $200 I'm thinking the wife is going to kill me.
"Want to ride it" he says.... Oh yea I said ! So he heads over and grabs a tool and we head to the door. He points out a few things and says "do a few laps so he can see me", I do so and then he waves me over. Let me adjust the seat and a couple of more pointers.... Have fun and walks inside... no yea let me have your D.L. til you come back or anything.
A dozen nice laps of the parking lot and a ride around the complex and I pull up to the front of the shop. Now, I'm SOLD, yea that's right, done deal .... he steps up and says oh by the way.... this is an 2011 and is not $770 but $599..... He'll up grade the seat for ZERO just pick what I want, any additional items 20% and free install and free servicing for a year.
NOW, I have not made it even to the second shop I had planned to visit. I'm shaking my head inside......