Quote Originally Posted by southtxrider View Post
Will I be missing something I "need" vs. the other low end Trek (~$400)

Thanks!

Welllllll, besides the compentency of the LBS staff in bike assembly, you will also be missing a trustworthy bike. When I worked at a bike shop, we called dept. store bikes "disposable bikes." Everything tends to be very low-end, frame materials and components. You might spend more getting it "fixed" at a bike shop than you spend on the bike. I really do not mean to sound like a bike snob! I've just seen the scenarios too often. Even the lower end bike shops MTB's will only take a certain amount of abuse. Are you thinking of doing much off-road, technical type ridings? Or just using it to goof around on and do gravel roads or trails? Possibly you could find a used MTB? As long it was from someone you trusted.
Okay - those are my thoughts. Anyone else? Agree? Disagree?

annie