Another option is the Motobecane Mirage - the $350 model. It doesn't have brifters, has down tube shifters instead. If you are okay with that, it could be a possibility. I really thought of getting that one so I read reviews and asked some folks who own one - they seem happy on the whole. I ended up getting a base model Specialized Sirrus (hybrid) instead - I decided I needed an LBS for my first real bike.