So, I have an old Stumpjumper, that never jumps stumps, or even hits gravel anymore, and I figured maybe it was time to get a more pavement oriented ride. I have no desire to lean over the bike, or at least not way over, so I've been looking at hybrids.

First stop, REI (20% sale, REI card, etc. got me interested), rode a Cannodale Quick 2, but it felt too short (could have been lack of fit) but the real problem is the crank squeaks. I'm pushing 235+ these days and I had the same problem with the Stumpjumper when I was pushing 200 and upgraded the cranks at the time of the purchase. Basically, I have big guy bike disease.

So, off to a couple of other stores and I stumble across the Specialized Sirrus Comp Carbon Disc ($1800). It felt great to just hold although I didn't ride it as I was in jeans. I'll go back in shorts. Anyways, remembering my last bike hunt, components get tricky and it's where all the money went over the years in the bike. So, I decided to check out the Sirrus Comp Disc ($1200) online. As near as I can tell it's almost the same components, just aluminum vs. carbon.

I'm not exactly going to be pounding hills or racing. I'll just be doing 20 mile rides, mostly, with, maybe, 30ish a couple of times/month. So, is that extra $600, absent riding it (and maybe the fit will suck making this moot) worth it? I've read a bunch on carbon but the biggest benefit for me would seem to be making it easier to carry the bike up and down the stairs in my apartment complex. Or, am I wrong?