Tripleshot Cycling

Looking to get an entry level road bike. Out of these, which do you think would be the best product? I don't know about tech specs so I have a hard time choosing. These are the only choices I have:

Someone is buying the bike for me and they have given me these choices:

---

1)Excellent value and super warranty,
http://www.mec.ca/product/5031-880/m...10+50002+50208

2)Lower end parts racier geometry, lighter frame.
http://store.trekbikesvictoria.com/p...t-173380-1.htm

3)Very similar to the Trek above.
http://www.norco.com/bikes/road/road...oy/valence-a3/

4) Relaxed geo but lower end parts for more money nice frame.
http://bspbikes.com/product/13cannon...a-178229-1.htm

--

So, some decisive info:
First off, what will I be using the bike for?
I commute half an hour to school and back, but for that I use my old bike since I don't mind locking it up places. For this new one I'll just be using it for joy rides, I have 30k and 50k routes around the city I like to ride just to get the endorphins flowing and feel the wind in my chops.

I would only consider using this new one for commutes if there was somewhere I could lock it away inside out of sight. Someone once said to me "locks keep honest people out", and I have had enough bikes stolen from the grasp of what I considered good (and expensive) locks, that the only thing I'll trust to lock up now is the old bike I have that I don't think anyone would look twice at. I don't want to leave a new bike lying around that someone will think "ooh i want that without paying for it"

I've considered the idea of fenders, but as far as I'm concerned, though, I don't like riding in the rain, and if I'm going to be riding in conditions that will be getting my bike all covered in sludge and grime, I'll do it with my old bike. I'm planning on using this one as a fair-weather cruiser. I don't want the insistence on fenders to limit my options, especially if I'm not planning to ride in the rain.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks!

options 2 and 3 aren't loading

Get a cyclocross bike, sort of like the mec, though that one is more touring bike than performance bike. (Mec is carrying a few Ridley X-bows cross bikes in spring; I like that one better, and I ride an older version of that so can attest to its performance and durability.)

Cross bikes are 98% as fast as a road bike (last VCL men's A crit at Windsor was won on a cross bike), more versatile, more durable. Room for fenders if (or more likely, when) you change your mind. This is an all year, all weather club, after all . Room for bigger tires if you try some gravel road events, or riding in winter when there are more pot holes.

Trek and Gary Fisher have a very cool disappearing fender mount system if frame aesthetics are an issue.

Good value also are:

Kona:
http://www.konaworld.com/jake_the_snake.cfm

Opus
http://opusbike.com/en/bikes/road/cyclocross/spark1

Ridley
http://www.ridley-bikes.com/ca/en/bikes ... disc-1405b

Trek
http://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en/bikes/ro ... rockett_5/#
Trek doesn't mention fender mounts, but this article does: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/arti ... ook-38133/

And there's more out there too.