Since the initial post, I, too, have bought a Tricross-sport, '08 (it is royal blue for all you color oriented ladies!) and I absolutely love it. I had been looking for a bike for commuting and for touring. I got on this bike and it fit, I could reach the drops, and I was absolutely comfortable. My LBS was not excited to get one the right size for me to try out, so when I was visiting my sons in Denver last October, I went to the Specialized store and they had one in my size. (I am 5'5") They gave me a deal and actually packed and shipped it home for less than my LBS would sell it to me. It is now totally outfitted for touring with racks, etc. I took the extra brakes on the handlebars off after I had ridden 350 miles and did not use them. They also took up some space where I wanted to put lights and cyclometer.
My husband also bought one and is in the last 300 miles of a 900 mile self supported tour right now, and when I met up with him for a visit last weekend, he said it was the best choice he could have made. The bike is comfortable and carries his load extremely well. He could not have been happier with the performance of the bike. :D:D
PS I forgot to say that they also shimmed the brakes for me...the shims actually came with the bike. My hands are very small and that has always been a problem for me...no more, however!
