Does this bike exist and would I want it?

[Kalidurga]

Let's see:

Mustache

Cow-horn

Exactly. The important differentiation is that the ends of the cow-horns face forward and the mustache sweeps backwards. To me, it seems like the cow-horns would feel similar to either a flat bar with bar ends, or riding on the hoods of a drop bar.

I put bar ends on the flat bar of my old hybrid and found that the more I rode, the more I kept angling them forward. I finally realized that it was because my body wanted to be more stretched out on the bike. When I switched to the 'cross bike with drop bars, I used the flats a lot at first. Partly because I wasn't used to the hand position of the hoods and drops, partly out of habit. By the end of the summer, though, I found that I felt much more control of the bike from the hoods than from the flats (I'm still getting used to the drops, though). Obviously it'll be different for everyone, but if you're leery of giving up your flat bars, Cindyloo, you might be surprised at how easily you adapt to drop bars. But, if you were to try drops and decide you're not comfortable with them, it's cool to know that there are more bar options these days than just flat and drop.

My take, you really can't get a bike that does all. Pick a sport. Buy the bike that fits that sport.

But why? What if your "sport" is just getting out there and enjoying the ride, and getting a kick out of being able to go wherever you want on your bike? A 'cross bike certainly doesn't do it all, but it does a lot more than bikes that are geared to specific surfaces or styles of riding. If someone wants that versatility and can't afford more than one bike, they're probably gonna get a lot of value and pleasure from a 'cross bike.

(Yeah, I'm a devotee I'll get off the soapbox now...)