Thank-you everyone for the fast responses, wow! I guess I should have specified the reason I'm mainly looking at Trek because of 'cc' reasons isn't because of a limit on my CC, but while drooling over a few treks I randomly applied for trek card and its en-route already not to mention I have several Trek dealers withen 30miles (1 withen 3!). I'm not totally against looking at other bikes, and the Kona sounds like a definite that deserves some attention, its just they sort of suckered me in with the ease of it since I don't nessessarly have 2grand laying around for a bicycle lol.

One of the things I really like about the CrossRip is the double brakes, as I have never had a drop bar bike and I see myself using the tops, at least in the beginning I like the idea of having brakes right at my fingertips. And the disc brakes are a huge plus also being that I'm from Ohio and our weather isn't exactly predictable, I think they would be very important. Again I am a noob and this is just my senses.

A last question I guess before I go research these new bike ideas, it was mentioned I could wear out the low level components and then replace them with upgrades, about how many miles does that generally take or is it mainly dependant of abuse/randomness? With a lifetime warranty on the frame, I'm not against using cheaper components while I learn and save, then upgrading to better ones (if not a entirely new bike)

Sorry to start the Trek vs QBP pissing match lol. Thanks again for all the answers and suggestions! I will keep looking and try to make it down to a LBS to see in person once I get a few more choices and facts straight, I like to go in with a game plan not leave it all up to hoping for a good salesman.