OK, no I wouldn't buy a car with drum brakes. I also wouldn't buy a mountain bike without them. But where and how I ride my road bike it's no advantage and I was looking to save a few bucks.

The sales guy was just being a sales guy. I understand that and marketing. As such I have no need for "this year's" model really.

I did ride the Emonda, Domane, a Synapse and looked at a Gunnar shop (nothing built) and went to Performance to look at Fuji's. The bikes I rode were all nice. The test ride is so different from how I ride at home I'm not sure I could really pick a favorite.

I ended up buying a 5 yr old Seven Axiom SLX w/ SRAM RED from a shop that serviced it before they sold it. Old school but sexy?