I'm not sure why all the hate for BD or their bikes. High end their not, but unless you intend to either pay well over a grand or cycle competitively, they are a good bargin. The Mercier Galaxy Tour looks pretty good. Aluminum frame, carbon fork, and Sora make for a good combination (despite what some people say, Sora works plenty well). As for having to put it together yourself, do it! There is nothing magical about putting a bike together out of the box and if you intend to keep riding, you should learn to do the adjustments yourself. Running to the LBS every time something needs tweaking can (and does) get expensive. Even truing wheels that are a little whack is a skill that every cyclist needs. In any case, good luck!