I've still not decided on a new bike. There seems to have been a delay with getting Specialized Vitas into the country, my LBS is now expecting to get one in close to the end of November. So I was looking at other lines that they carry, and am more than a little smitten with the Giant Dash 4.

I'm thinking about stepping outside my comfort zone a little. This looks way faster and lighter than my other bikes (Specialized Hardrock mountain bike and Marin Stinson comfort bike). I use the Hardrock offroad and it's my main bike for towing dd in her trailer. The Marin is principally an errand bike, used whenever I need to carry anything as it has a rack and basket.

So I think I'm confused on whether I should be getting something that does what the Marin does only better (the Vita Elite would readily take fenders and a rack, would tow, would be fine on the off-road-lite shortcuts that I use and would still be fun for road rides). Then I could sell the Marin. Or I could get the Giant, which I think would take a rack and road-fenders - and would be a completely different kind of riding. I think it's a case of the Specialized seems like a sensible choice, but I love the look of the Giant and the idea of being able to put in some miles on local lanes. I don't know how it would be on short stretches of dirt road/gravel though. Any thoughts/advice/experience?