Originally Posted by
hubcap
I doubt that the slightly less aggressive geometry would keep you from doing rides that you would otherwise do on the Giant. You don't specify what you mean by a longer trip, but the Specialized or Norco may actually be a better bike for the longer trips as well as the routine commute. I don't know how you plan to go about your commute, but the majority of commuters here find that getting the weight of their gear off their back (i.e. backpack/messanger bag) and on to the bike (i.e. rack with panniers or trunk bag) is preferrable. As thdave points out, that is something a bike with longer chainstays makes easier. Also, clearance for wider tires and fenders is often a desireable attribute of a commuter bike, as well as longer ride, touring-style bikes.
If a longer ride to you means club rides with roadies, then you probably will eventually be wishing you had a road bike with drop bars.
Agreed on all counts. All depends on primary/secondary uses. I ended up with a Sirrus Comp in 2010, rather than a Rapid (came down to these two, at my LBS), precisely because my riding was/is a mix of daily commuting and longer rides (up to and including centuries) on weekends/evenings, all done solo. I liked the fact that the Sirrus was/is just that little bit more versatile (tire clearance, etc.) than the Rapid, while still being pretty 'roadie' when I feel like it; it's equally happy with 25c Conti 4000s or 32c Panaracer Paselas. The new Sirrus geometry goes much further in the 'touring' direction than mine (2010), but that's neither here nor there.