Originally Posted by
acidfast7
for example, the Breezer Uptown 8 is a much better bike than the Jamis models (although it is approaching 1000 USD). it has won the best commuting bike 2 years in row ... however, by European standards it's still roughly 2x too expensive
http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes/details/uptown_8
Even setting aside the Jamis discount, the OP stated he is new to cycling, and I would never recommend a single-speed bike to someone who is not seriously skilled and very strong.