Quote Originally Posted by MartianDestiny View Post
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To have a front derailleur mal-adjusted enough to allow the chain to fall off during a shift is one thing (that should never happen). That the shop wasn't falling all over themselves in apologies and embarrassment after it happened is another. "Did you shift it"...."Well DUH!"....

Either keep looking or pick one of the two from the shop you like. Can they order you a cross-check in another color (it comes in black too, at least this year)? At what price? Can they work with you on the Jamis so that you aren't stuck if you hate it? (perhaps they'd be willing to order one for you to try if you committed to either buying it or the cross-check from them?)
As a middle-aged woman who was not in full biking attire like some of their customers, he might have assumed I didn't know anything at all? (I didn't appreciate his dismissive comment afterward that most of the time I 'wouldn't be needing the big ring'. How could he possibly know how I ride? I told him that I wanted to see how the gearing felt-and (gasp) how smoothly it shifted.)

I wouldn't have bought that Randonneur on a bet-sale or not-but I did like the Speciale CX. I can order a new CX (full price of course) at a shop that's closer to me, but I haven't dealt with them before, either.

The first shop would happily order a 2010 Jamis Aurora. (They aren't stocking that model this year, so there is no chance that one will show up in the shop later on.) Your suggestion of committing to buy that or the Surly Cross-Check if the Aurora is not quite as hoped is a good idea. It might be worth taking a chance this time-based on owner reviews and my own satisfaction with the Coda Sport.