This is my first time posting on here, but I definitely need some help. I have just recently gotten into riding. My experience consists mostly of groomed trails and road biking, but I have just started getting into some mountain biking. When I was out about week ago, a buddy of mine ran over my bike, so its off to buy a new one.

I have to a couple of my LBS shops to get advice and look for a new one. My goal is find a new bike that will handle both road/off road biking. I am getting conflicting advice. A couple of them are telling me to get a mountain bike, and get an extra pair of "slicks" (road worthy) tires to get on when I want to hit the road. Others are telling me to get a hybrid bike since I will be doing both. I am concerned though since if I get into anything really technical on a hybid while I am mountain biking, it will not be able to handle it.

Any advice would be most helpful! Thanks!