My Specialized Vita Sport is a 2008 model so it is equivalent to the current Vita Sport Elite (which has carbon forks and trigger shifters, not twist). I think if you go up to the Sport Model this year, it will have trigger shifters, as well (but no carbon). I tested a small Sirrus and the Vita Sport at the same time and felt more comfortable on the Vita. I'm not sure about the previous bike store owners' comment about bad practices of Specialized, but Specialized is a highly respected local company where I live. If your LBS is a Specialized dealer, they can probably order a Vita Sport (or Elite) for you without you having to find another store. The comment at my LBS was that both the Vita & Sirrus were a really good value and that you couldn't really get a better bike at that price. Most of the road bikes everyone else is comparing them to are alot more expensive.