My LBS manager asked the mechanics which bike they'd recommend and it was unanimous to go with the Trek for the sole reason of getting the Tiagra components instead of the Apex. I had Apex on my Crux, which I'm trading in to get this new bike, and it was OK, but I didn't like it as much as the Deore on my Mendota, so I'm kinda thinking they may be onto something. I would still like to hear others comments and thoughts, but for the time being I think I'm going to wait for the 7.7. My road riding season is largely drawing to a close anyway and I'll be on the hybrid and MTB most through the winter, so it's not that big of a deal to wait.