I'm looking at the https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...rrus-comp-disc and the https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...ort-disc#specs

I'm looking for something to ride on a daily commute to work mostly through the city area. Only about 10 miles round trip. I do a few nights a week out on street/dirt roads for about 40 miles.

One of the bigger things I'm looking for is for bikepacking. I was originally looking at touring bikes, but realized I'd be only doing things like 2 nights bikepacking trips and had no use for a real touring bike.

The tricross looks like it's geared lower and would be better for the big hills in the Allegheny mountain areas with gear. The Sirrus looks like it might better for me around town. Most of my riding is for fun and fitness versus commuting and bikepacking. But, I want to do all 3 of those things on a new bike.

So are one of those better than the other? One big difference is the drop bars. I've never really used them. Are there better bikes in the sub 1400$ range that are better? Or which of those 2 is the better choice?

The gearing on the Sirrus is actually lower. Surprised? I am! Would go uphill easier.

Sirrus
Chainrings 50/34
Cassette 11-25

Tricross
Chainrings 50/34
Cassette 11-30

Doesn't this mean the Tricross is geared lower and easier for hills?

The regular Sirrus Comp has 11-36 - I assumed they would be the same.

I have a Sirrus and like it. But FWIW, as I have ridden my road bike more and more in the last couple of years, whenever I get on the Sirrus I find myself missing the drop bars.

Yes. You can plug the numbers into Sheldon's calculator to see by how much.

I just bought a sirrus comp disc a few weeks ago, Its a good bike but Im trying to figure out just wtf i payed $1200 for? None of the components seems to add up to much......nothing really impressive I wouldn't mount anything on it or use it for commuting. Its a good over priced fitness bike i guess...

I think the Sirrus Sport Disc is the best value in that class.

I agree that $1200 U.S. is a little over the odds, but that's true of all Specialized bikes (Trek too, for that matter) relative to, say, Giant.

That said, not sure I get it. Very good E5 frame: check. Decent Tiagra/105 mix drivetrain: check (crank could be better). Decent/basic hydro discs: check. Crap wheelset (standard on these bikes at this price point, Giant again excepted): check. Fit for purpose? Yep: reasonably light/reasonably tough. Perfectly suited to commuting/light touring? Yep: just add rack(s). Perfectly suited to riding stripped down as a fitness/flat-bar road bike? Yep.
So, can't see the problem.

Its just that everything seem a little basic for the 1200 price tag. I think its that black paint!

Change the gearing to suit you, ... either one.

I think I decided on the Tricross. For the some of the distance rides and the areas I'll be going into it seems like the best idea for me. I'll probably fit panniers to it in the next few months as well for some overnight trips.