I found this small bike shop selling a Fuji Absolute 2006 model for $420 new, gives 60 days free tune ups, not a full year.

Has anybody had this bike?

Maybe I should just get the 2007 model for $450?

Any comments?

The Absolute is a great bike for the dollar. If you like a flatbar roadie, you can have a blast on this without spending a lot of cash. My GF just bought an Absolute 3 and thinks it's great for commuting. I, personally have a hard time with the rapidrise shifting though.

oh... what is rapid rise shifting?

rapid rise switches the direction of the spring on the rear derailleur. For years the default position (ie no tension on the shift cable) was on the smallest cog. Shimano needed a marketing ploy so the reversed the spring so that the default position is the largest cog. All it does is reverse the direction of the shift. If a low normal derailler shifts to a smaller cog by pulling the lever toward you, a rapid rise derailleur would be shifting to a larger cog by pulling the lever toward you.

I think there is a bit more to it in terms of usefulness in mtn biking, but for normal riders, it just reverses the shift levers action.

thanx for the clarification about rapid rise shifting.

any other advice/comments about the Fuji Absolute?

2006 or 2007?