Quote Originally Posted by Catriona View Post

Are there any bike shops close to a mountain or a big hill that you could take a road or cyclocross bike on a test ride to try out?

You may want to consider a touring road bike - you can put cyclocross style tires on them.
Too bad, just that area are not so many hills as where I live. Maybe I will ask the shop owner for some advice. I don't think the touring bike is something for me, I just love this cyclocross bike. It felt great. Somehow, everytime I test road bikes I don't get so enthusiastic as with the cyclocross bikes. I don't know what it is. Don't know if I ever want to participate in a cyclocross race, but I prefer muddy terrains better than road.
The hill thing, I am going to ask him what he thinks. Thanks for all your info. Guess you have a cyclocross bike?