Originally Posted by
Axiom
It looks like a fantastic stock commuter bike, but there are no dealerships in Florida(?), none on eBay and definitely none on eBay. The only other bikes that come close are cheap nashbar/performance bike/used/or bare bones commuters like a Trek DS or Scott. Are there any brands that I'm missing? There are so many choices out there and I don't want to skip over anything. Sometimes I like to think I know it all, but I really don't. Any suggestions? The CAAD is up for sale to fund a commuter bike project and maybe a decent roadie for riding. Not looking to spend more than a grand on a commuter.
I don't think Cube markets in the US. But from what I can see on the Chain Reaction website, the Trek Allant, the Specialized Globe and a whole host of other bikes are similar for a similar price. I'm with spare_wheel on the shock. It's a pogo stick, as are most shocks at that price level. You'd probably end up replacing it with a rigid one for road use anyway. The components on all of these bikes are boat anchors. It's better to go for a little more money and get a bit better componentry.
Other than the shock, the only thing that the Cube Town has is a dynamo system. But there are a lot of better aftermarket alternatives...even in dynamos. From the Busch and Muller site
The LUMOTEC Lyt B reaches a light output of approx. 15 Lux. Light at close range significantly improves riding safety.
You can't tell much from the lux measurement without knowing how far away from the light it is measured but 15 lux is pretty dim compared to other dynamo light offerings. That's kind of in the "be seen (but not really) category.