I'm an injured runner too..well my injuries started in high school, and then I put all my energy into being an equestrain instead of doing a million sports, but in college and grad school cutting back on the riding meant more running and other high-impact activities. My ankle is pretty trashed (OCD of the talar dome), and I can only manage the discomfort by avoiding running, kickboxing, and all the stuff I used to like to do.

Because I move a lot, I tried spinning for a long time (over a year) and then took the plunge and bought a road bike. But your approach for where you live will probably be just as good. I think a hybrid would be too slow and heavy for my taste, but anything you think you'll enjoy without breaking the bank to start with is great.

I don't know of any post-Thanksgiving bike sales, but look for 06 models that are hanging around the shop.

You can generally go out for longer rides, especially if the shop isn't too busy, but you might have to leave an ID and credit card with them. Try finding some speed bumps, roots, and any rough terrain that you can to see how comfortable it will be on the trails versus on the roads.

Cycling is addictive. I'm thinking of racing in the spring. Sometimes it'd be nice to run when I want to do certain other activities like play ultimate frisbee or soccer, but overall, I don't miss it. My tibia and ankles are so much happier since I gave it up. Now I just need to get another horse....