I had my "mountain" bike, a GT timberline given to me and not the right size given to me years ago... I used it last year to get in shape and this year as a commuter. Well. Got lost riding around one night and had to ride on a dirt road. Now that I knew I could ride the GT on dirt, I decided to map a commute through the management area behind my house up through the woods to a Park and Ride about 8 miles away. This is mostly on a wide dirt track / road, mixed gravel and sand, with ruts, hillocks, mounds and big rocks.

I had a blast.

Now what? I feel like - where have I been?

I have a road bike and I love being on my road bike. I have a cross / touring bike that I also love. I have this freebie GT. How to justify buying a mountain bike except for that I loved the thrill of nearly falling into a big puddle?

Yikes! What fun.
I will keep reading and learning and going out on that old GT into the woods.