Thanks everybody for your suggestions! I had given up this thread for dead, and was surprised to find it revived. I've test-ridden many other bikes sinces my first post, and things have changed a lot. I recently had the pleausre to ride a Surly Cross Check, and it's changed my mind about drop bars and forced me to expand my budget gbcb's point about wanting to ride a bike because it's fun is well taken; I've never had so much fun riding as on the XC. Also, the lbs that stocks the surly has a deal whereby they'll switch the drops to a flat bar up to a couple of weeks after purchase, if you like...but, I find myself liking the drops the more I ride them. Love the bar end shifters, too. I also enjoyed testing the Novara Randonee, but it wasn't quite as much fun as the XC. The only thing stopping me from buying it now, is the possibility that the Surly LHT might be even better, but I'd have to wait 'til they ship in April to find out. Thanks again everyone for the advice.