Ah, steal is a different deal all together. It is probably very comfortable...but heavy. Especially since it is entry-level (orignally came with Sora). Might not be a bad fit for your intended usage, though.
The Giro frame by itself went for more than the fully-built Flite (before the Ultegra upgrade). It will be much lighter and more responsive...but probably a bit 'harsher' to ride. Is there any way you can ride a built up Giro (or similar) to feel the difference for yourself...and see if the Giro will fit you as well? If you have a few bucks to invest here, I'd suggest pulling the trigger on the frame and upgrading the wheelset as you move parts over. You'd be getting a heck of a lot of bike for the money. But it might be overkill for your needs.
BTW: I'm totally biased here, so might not be giving the best advise. I own an '05 Giro and love it.
__________________
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
Last edited by dtrain; 10-11-06 at 11:35 AM.