Thanks for all the great info. I'm getting so excited about having a bike again that I think I might crack one day soon, and end up coming home with a new bike (it happened with my puppy and I haven't regretted it...most days ).

As a noob who doesn't quite understand some quality issues, what are the differences between a 7.2, 7.3, and 7.5? I've looked at the specs online, but I'm not sure what it means in terms of what exactly it *means* functionally (quality, durability, longevity of components, weight, etc). The 7.2 is about $559; 7.3 is $719; 7.5 at $919 (Canadian $ as new - but I keep an eye out for used). I'd like to get the best for my buck, but any money saved means bigger budget for locks, panniers, etc.