So, I ordered the Trek Mendota (Gary Fisher Collection).
I just absolutely love the style and design of the bike, so I had to jump on it, sadly without ever having tried it. I really hope I like it, and I hope it fits right. They only had 2x 17.5 models left at Trek, and I'm around 5'8" (maybe ~30" inseam)...the guy at the shop said it should fit me perfectly. I hope he was right!
I didn't want to chance not being able to this bike, since it was the one that really drew me in. I was afraid they wouldn't come out with the same model next year.
The guy at the shop had never heard of this bike, funny enough, as he had recommended the 7.5FX. I asked him to compare the specs, and he was quite surprised at the specs of the Mendota for the price, especially with the SLX derailleurs. Looking forward to next week!