The bikes seem to be getting harder to find. The really nice ones are really tough to find, unless you want to pay crazy prices for them....no pressure for a quick decision, since they don't seem to sell that quickly...unless they're Italian. The price for new bikes is actually pretty low, especially with some of the incredible online deals out there. Even shops have some great deals. The new steel frame bikes are pricey, though. Anybody considering a C&V bike should be able to do basic maintenance on it. This last point is critical, since most shops will throw crazy estimates at you when you bring an older bike in. It freaks people out. Plus, 27" tire selection is limited. Still available, though. If you want to invest, look elsewhere for places to put your cash. If you want to enjoy cycling, look for the best C&V bike you can get. Then ride it alot, and keep up with it's cleaning and maintenance.