There are a few models that are just out of the range of what I would like to spend that I could definitely afford but I also want to ensure I'm going to enjoy this sport as much as I hope to. I figured whatever I buy now should get me through a year or two of real riding before I make any serious investment into cycling. By the time I'm ready to do that I'll know exactly what I am after and I'll feel confident dropping some cash on a better setup. I will have also hopefully acquired all the odds and ends that I need beyond the bike itself by then. Ie. Helmet, pumps, tools etc. I'm really interested in getting something that will make my experience enjoyable and in something that will remain reliable. So far everything you guys have said has really helped me narrow this down a bit more! While I am sure I would love a Wabi, I also probably won't appreciate why it is so nice at this stage anyhow so a marginal improvement over other bikes for the price isn't quite worth it for me at this time.

That might sound sort of silly but I hope that makes sense.