nOOb in nEEd!

[Trek420]

Diggles "You ladies are so incredibly helpful! Thank you!"

welcome to the board Diggles, lots of help here.

"I did go to my LBS (look@me...using the lingo already!)"

oooh, cute, look, she's saying bike words. ::sigh:: they grow up so fast here, before you know it.... Just kidding you, that's great.

"My only reason for hesitation is that I would really love to have something I could also take off-road."

If by off road you mean gravel trails consider simply getting an extra set of tires. Use the slicks for commute, road rides, just pop knobbie tires on when heading for a gravely ride.

What will most of your rides be like?

My commuter is a GT Outpost trail about 10 years old. They have front shocks now but back in the day no suspension anywhere.

It fits just right. I don't need suspension for my commute.

I got slicker tires and have taken it on a fire road but nothing bouncier than that. I just threw good money after bad at it an upgraded the wheels. On some rides, like hills (which I'm bad at) I might be faster on the old el'cheapo GT than on my fancy schmancy road bike.

I've read here that you're faster going than stopping so I may even try it on Mt Diablo someday.