Conference noted::bicycle

IMHO, if  you are going to be doing 75% of your riding on pavement, go with the
hybrid rather than the mountain bike.  The hybrid tends to be lighter and have
less rolling resistance than the mountain bike.

Bob

    RE:0
    Yes, I agree with .1 Go with the hybrid. I ride on about 75% on pavement
    and 25% dirt road and I have a hybrid which I love. I have 21 speeds and I'm
    glad I have them. It gives you more of a range to shift and keep the 
    tension on peddling consistent. Your price constraint of under $425 should 
    land you a real good 21 speed. My Schwinn Crisscross and my wife's Trek 720,
    both have 21 speeds and cost less than $375. You probably can do better
    now.

    Jim

    
    If you don't plan to ever do any trail type riding, the Hybrid with
    it's 700 size wheels is probably a better way to go. However, I do a
    lot of trail/singletrack/dirt road riding with my mountainbike and my
    friend who has a hybrid (L.L. Bean model) rides with me. His bike
    suffers a lot of wear and tear in hard riding that mine doesn't and now
    he wishes he had bought a "true" mountainbike and a spare set of wheels
    with slick tires for road and dirt road riding (he does a lot of both).
    If you get a MTB you can always put slicks or inverted narrow tread
    tires on it (or buy it that way) and street ride easily, but you
    usually can't put beefy knobby tires on a hybrid due to the lack of
    clearance. If you do get the hybrid, definately go with the 21 speeds
    because they usually have a better grade of components that a typical
    18 speed (i.e., quick release rear wheels, alloy vs. stamped steel
    deraillers, better shifters, steel vs. plastic brake levers, etc.). I
    did see a VERY nice Diamondback hybrid with 700c Smoke tires, high
    quality bars, deraillers, frame, gel seat- really a high quality hybrid
    that a guy I talked with bought for about $500. Well worth it if you
    compared it to a typical $400 hybrid.  Enjoy!
    
    Mike 

    I'd have to agree wirh .3 FWIW.  Even if you're only gonna ride %25 on
    dirt, you might be better off with a true mountain bike.  Although a
    mtn. bike will require more effort on the road than a hybrid, consider
    the fact that you're getting more exercise, and you're less likely to
    trash your bike on the trail.  A few good stumps and rocks on the
    trail, and a hybrid may be hurtin' (but I guess that depends on what
    trails you ride).  Like was mentioned earlier, you can always invest in 
    slicks for a mtn. bike to make it more road-worthy.
    
    	Mike

   RE: 2639.0 <LUNER::FARRENKOPF>

       I see you mentioned Diamondback.  I just bought one of those myself; a
   Diamondback Crosscountry, to be specific.  It is a hybrid and list for
   about 250$.  If you avoid very rugged terrain, a hybrid will suit you fine;
   especially for 75% road riding.  I do about 95% road riding but got a
   hybrid because of the rough street here in Worcester.

   Good luck
   Tony

    I'd say get a hybrid, or look for a used one if you're not sure.
    The quality hybrid that was mentioned earlier was probably a 
    racing model.  (Some people believe that mtn bike racing on a 
    hybrid will give them an advantage because of its lighter weight
    and larger wheels) With the amount of road riding that you are 
    projecting, you would probably enjoy a hybrid more.  Riding a 
    mtn bike with slicks is a dog (I do it often on my older Diamondback,
    though a newer bike would be a smaller dog :-) The hybrid should be
    durable enough for the off road that you plan on doing.  The only 
    warning is this: a hybrid is just what it says, a cross between 
    two styles of bicycles, road and mtn.  It combines them well but is
    not good at either.  I have a friend who bought one and thought that
    he'll only be doing touring on it, then he got into racing, and then
    he got into mtn biking. So, he eventually got a road bike to go
    fast, and a mtn bike to do trails. :-)
    
    good luck!
    

    Bridgestone X/05 hybrid, $390, very fun to ride.
    

    I do about the same kind of riding you say you'll be doing - 75%
    pavement, 25% dirt roads - and I highly recommend a hybrid.  It's not
    the machine for racing, serious touring or serious off-road riding. 
    But for general purpose use, distances under 50 miles, it's great.  I
    wanted a bike that would go almost anywhere and that was sturdy and
    comfortable; my Schwinn Crosscut is perfect for me.  On a long ride the
    single position gets tiring, and on a rocky trail the tires are a
    little fragile.  But for dirt roads and cities a hybrid is perfect, as
    the wheels and gears are tall enough to make good time, but you have
    good gearing, traction and puncture resistance.
    
    As far as gears go, you can never have too many.  My bike has 21, and I
    often wish I had a lower gear, sometimes a taller one, too.  For $400 US,
    you should be able to get a very good machine.  I bought mine at
    Belmont Wheel Works in Belmont, Mass.; they seem to be a good shop. 
    Just ride as many different ones as you can, and ride a few that are
    out of your price range to get an idea of what the extra bucks will get
    you.  Then choose one that is comfortable and shifts smoothly - the
    shifters are where cheap bikes scrimp.  And be advised that hybrids
    come with both drop (road type) handlebars and flat (mountain) bars.
    
    If you're going to be doing heavy-duty off-road biking, get a mountain 
    bike; for all-road riding, get a touring or racing bike.  But for a good 
    part of both worlds, you can't beat a hybrid.
    
    Dave