Thanks for the follow-up. i look forward to hearing the long term impression.

When I finally get a good bike again, I will have a hard time choosing between the two. Though, there are at least a dozen other frames I am also considering. Some people I've talked to have tried to pass the Trance off as a 'lamb among lions', but your endorsement carries a lot of weight, since your riding style/terrain is a lot like mine, but your skill level is what I aspire to.

So, you've never bent the rails? I take it you don't ride the Ti railed version, then. I've bent the rails on two Ti railed SLRs ...and I don't ride like a sack of potatoes, either.