[aigel]

That first trek at almost $300 is way too expensive. Lots of unknowns. May need chain, cassette, deraileur and a bottom bracket and it is a $500 bike ...

You can buy a nice brand new trek $500 new which will be much better than the above. Last year I bought a Trek Excaliber 5 for $500 out the door - 29er with mechanical disk brakes. It looks like that may no longer be offered though, with the 6 now being the entry model at around 800. That'd be a hell of a bike with hydraulic discs.

G