I can pretty much ditto everything starfish said about my Sequoia Elite - including not being wild about it but feeling like it has been a good starter bike.

I had worse luck with components - I did change all my gearing to help me get up hills - I have 24(!)-48-52 front and and 11-37 back (I think that's what it is - anyway - very small in front and very large in back!)

I also swapped my wheels out - I really didn't like the stock wheels, and broke a spoke on a scary descent with < 500 miles on the bike. And I replaced the brakes.

Between all the stuff I replaced and the original cost of the bike, I probably could have most of a decent custom bike by now, but when I bought the bike originally, I had no idea I would enjoy cycling so much, or that I would be riding so many hills, so it probably isn't a compeletly fair statement.

Hope this helps. Have fun buying your bike and on your ride!