Originally Posted by BobbyG

I bought a Charge Plug from Performance bicycles in January. I wanted steel. I'm very happy. As you can see from the "before and after" photos whatever the weight difference is is miniscule when you add the weight of the fenders, rack, lights, backpack, etc. I don't know how my components compare with the Plug 4, but this is where the Fuji may have the edge, as my Plug's components feel a little less sophisticated than some of the other bikes I tried. But for me, and my style of riding, this bike is perfect. It is relaxed, comfortable, fast, but not quick, and the steering feels more self-centered than my roadbike. While not as flexy as my old steel roadbike, The Plug has enough of that cushioning that I couldn't detect on any of the alloy bikes I tried. Even though I wanted steel, I wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking any good bikes due to some preconceived notions about steel, aluminum, etc. The only issues I have had were the "micro-knob" tires were a little wriggly when new, as I have smoother road tires on my other bikes. The clearance for fenders was really tight with said tires, but I got it worked out on the second try. (Hint: Drill a hole in the rear fender to take advantage of a threaded hole on the bridge between the seat stays...and use the flattest head bolts you can find at the hardware store). And the rear drop-outs seemed to be a non-standard size from most what came with the rack and fender kits, but not some crazy exotic size. I think it was 6mm metric but I have forgotton. The front forks had the usual size drop-outs. Your best bet is to ride both bikes a few times and then throw a couple of others in the mix and then keep in mind how you ride. In my 30s I would have chosen a lighter, quicker more responsive bike. Now, in my 50s, I wanted something comfortable that would cruise at a fast pace with little or no drama. For me, the Plug was it!