Originally Posted by Maelochs

One small secret is that there is almost no difference between each manufacturer at each price point.

An entry-level hybrid from almost any reputable manufacturer will be almost identical. They have the same budgets, the same component and manufacturing costs, the same shipping and sales costs .... Giant makes most of the frames for several manufacturers, and a couple other huge factories make the rest.

Some will offer a little bit more somewhere and less elsewhere---maybe the wheels, or the rear derailleur, or the cockpit parts will have a couple flashy names and some other part will be a little cheaper but overall, they are all the same.

Giant has a reputation for offering decent frames and Slightly better value---same gear, marginally lower prices---at some price points. Not at all of them.

That's why so many people will tell you pick a shop, not a brand---the shops vary a lot, the brands hardly at all.

If you like the Giants ... and you pretty much know the competition only varies in paint scheme and decal placement ... don't kill yourselves trying to see a dozen different iterations of exactly the same thing.

The majority of riding is the rider. Don't tell the multi-million dollar bike marketing industry, but if you like to ride, you can like riding almost anything, and the most expensive, exotic, high-tech bike in the world is a doorstop if you don't like riding.

Buy your Giants. Everyone here including myself can Absolutely, Positively, Without Equivocation Assure you that they are the best bikes you could buy. Unless you buy something else---in which case those bikes will be the Absolute ... etc.

So ... once you buy them, never think about it again. Just go ride.