Saw my first 2009 Trek 520 at the LBS Wednesday. Sold of course. Owner said Trek told her they only had 6 left in warehouses nationwide. No more until next year. She said it's been like this with the 520s for a while now. They make a certain amount based on largely on pre-orders and that's it for the year. Seems like a strange business practice. I understand controlling inventory and all, but this just has to be case of lost opportunity. I mean the season's just beginning in many riders' minds.

Some side notes: The color is very nice; the overall bike looks good, if you like sloping top tubes; the fenders really look goofy, but are stiffer than I imagined; the indexed bar-end shifters were way better than I imagined (having never actually shifted one before).

$600 more got you a Cannondale Touring 1 with Ultergra/105 stuff, STI shifters, a lighter aluminum frame, and a hideous earthy grayish-green color.

I bought my Armadillo, a cable, and left.