Yeah, Waterford is hard to beat, and the steel tubeset is pretty top-notch...but ouchie for SURE on the price point. I'm pretty sure you could go custom with a smaller builder with high-end steel and beat that price on a similar spec.

I hear you on the Terry/VT Teddy thing. I want the company to stick around, and I know that the bikes haven't been their mainstay for a long time. But really? Teddy Bear Co? And while I'm receptive to some of their recent marketing efforts (pro deal Mondays!) I CANNOT STAND the new logo colors. (Pink and red together always makes me nauseous!)

I'm happy to see that my post on Bike Rumor about the Giant got them to acknowledge that Terry was first though.

The Giant TCX W is going to be WAY cheaper though - about 1/2 the price ($1650ish depending on where you are). Yeah, made in China, yeah, aluminum frame, and a "who knows" Giant/Formula wheelset. But a respectable spec -- almost all SRAM Rival with Avid Shorty 6s. Although the sloping top tube isn't what I'd want for dismount/carrying, they did flatten the top tube for easier shouldering, which is cool.

And Giant-sponsored mountain/CX pro Kelli Emmett helped with the design, and just the fact that Giant supports a local (world class!) female racer makes me appreciate them more than the other big four at the moment.