What do I really need?

[Dirtdevil]

Okay, I've read all of the posts on which cross bike to purchase, etc. etc.... I'm trying to figure out exactly what kind of bike I need for my purpose. I own a couple of MTN bikes and a road bike. For the past few months I've been "sentenced" to road riding due to ACL recovery. While I like hitting the road on occasion I found myself getting bored with pavement. I started exploring the roads of western Wayne Cty. on my MTN bike and really began to like the ability to explore a lot of more routes that included dirt and paved roads. I was limited on my roadbike as a nice paved road would suddenly turn to dirt. My MTN bike, while light, is heavy for major long distance road rides, but I like the comfort of the shock and more upright seating position. That brings me to my issue... I want a comfortable, shock-absorbing, light-weight bike (700 mm tires) that can handle the sometimes gnarly, bumpy back roads yet roll smoothly on the road. I like the idea of upright handlebars as opposed to the cross ones, but like the durability of the frame and components of a cross bike. I'm afriad that the cross bike will be a bumpy ride on the washboard/sometime pothole riddled dirt roads. Seems like the only choice I have is a relatively inexpensive (lower end frame/component) hybrid bike or a entry-level/mid priced (decent frame/components) cross bike. My budget is around 1K. What bike would best serve my purpose?

[RMXByker]

I was considering something along the same lines. I was thinking and looking at some of the Treks out there although most companies sell something similar...

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/dual_sport/ds_series/8_5_ds/#/us/en/model/details?url=us/en/bikes/town/dual_sport/ds_series/8_5_ds

[Jeffreykdc]

I put cross tires on my 29er and let it roll

[3d]

I put cross tires on my 29er and let it roll

sounds like the solution, if you don't want drop bars.

from novices to experts, i've always found it interesting how much people let their tire current/default tire selection dictate what you can do with a bike.

[Loren]

I have two 29'er wheelsets - one with Racing Ralphs and one with Ritchey Speedmax cross tires. It takes seconds to swap wheels, and it's like having two different bikes.

[Dirtdevil]

I put cross tires on my 29er and let it roll

My 29er is a SS. Don't want to roll the SS on the road. Thought about buying a cheaper 29er and setting it up with cross tires. Might be just what I'm looking for.

[Sortaslow]

Well, any bike will do, but it comes down to tires. Wtb vulpines roll very well and i even used them on singletrack for a season.

[jalopy jockey]

Sounds like you just want faster tires on your mountain bike, maybe a rigid fork. Or go fullblown monstercross. aka drop bar take previous formula and add drop bars, but you want upright. A cross bike will ride harher than a bigger tired monstercross, but will likely be lighter and faster.

If one of your mountain bikes is a hardtail 29r perhaps just a rigid fork and the right tires are all you need.

[deuxdiesel]

Salsa Vaya or Fargo or a Surly Crosscheck can be set up with flat bars and a longer stem, and all can take some pretty meaty tires. Any cheap 29er with a rigid fork and high volume commuter tires would also work. I'm in the exact same boat as you right now, except mine is a back/neck injury. Look up the GravelGrinder website and the monstercross threads on MTBR for more information.

[Sirk]

I built a low budget cross single speed for the all-purpose riding that I do in the same area. I built it with MTB flat bars and brakes. Since there are so few hills, I have a 36x15, and I can use it almost everywhere. I may not get there very fast but it works. For a few dollars more you can add gears and shifters. I did mine for less than 500. New cross bikes are less than 1K for entry level.