Originally Posted by no1mad

Hate to intrude on the debate, but I would probably go with the KHS Flite 220 Triple myself. Similar specs, but on a cromo frame. True, the msrp of $499 is higher than that of the Dawes from BD, but did I mention that it's steel?
Also, I'm a noob. I don't have any tools to build a bike with, don't have the proper expertise to fit myself just by looking at numbers/figures on a screen/paper. I prefer to have the safety net a LBS provides. Also, a part (admittedly a very small part) of the sales tax goes towards infrastructure, like road resurfacing/re-stripping, street lights, money for the parks dept. that maintains the trail system...