Just the kind of analytical help I needed.
Thanks, Sportster2009.
Follow-up questions:
1) gearing with a GF hybrid won't be a problem for me? we do have some pretty steep hills where I live ... Eureka Springs in the Ozark Mountains of NW Arkansas ... Fayetteville, where my son lives and will be riding most of the time, is more rolling and flater
2) the wheels on the GF hybrids are larger than what are on the Trek true mountain bikes, like the 4300? if so, that makes it easier for speed on pavement? however, I don't see speed being really improtant to me
3) "trek dc's"?
As far as off-road, most of mine will be on county gravel roads and bike trails (not paved and through the woods) in our parks ... though you can get agressive on our bike trails (big rocks, trees, downhill), that's not what I'll be doing ... mostly staying on the trails, which can get sloppy at times but are typical of mountain trails for the most part.
Thanks,
Bill