Hey all,

I'm doing some online comparison shopping for a new commuter bike for the spring. I want a drop-barred, light-touring, steel-framed, disc-braked, wide-tired, multi-purpose, all-weather do-it-all bike. Oh yeah, and I want it for under $1000. I had narrowed my choices down and was considering the Kona Jake (despite the aluminum frame and lack of disc brakes - still a very nice bike.) Recently I came across this bike: http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/Bi...ATO-Peace-Tour Very nice. Fits all my needs. I know nothing about GT bikes and know no one who owns one. My LBS has a GT Aerostream in their inventory so I assume they could order me in the PeaceTour.

I'd like to hear some opinions about this bike. What do you think of the components? Are those brakes adequate? I didn't even know Tektro made disc brakes, and I assumed all discs were 160mm in diameter, but this bike's are 140mm. I'm a Clydesdale at 6'0", 300 lbs. If I bought this bike I would add some Velocity DeepV rims with 36 spokes but would other wise leave it unchanged. I've never used bar-end shifters and the only drop-bar bikes I've test ridden so far were STI equipped. That being said, my last drop bar bike was a junior-sized VeloSport 10-speed with downtube friction shifters. I had no problem shifting, but my 12-year old body and flexibility allowed me to do things then that I could never do now.

Anyway thanks in advance for all your expected input.