I'm definitely not interested in a mountain bike. I live in a suburban area so I'm thinking a more road oriented flat bar hybrid/city/urban/fitness/commuter/whatever bike would be the ticket but I'd like the capability to ride across a patch of grass, a gravel driveway or go up a curb if needed I just don't know if I'd be able to do it on a rigid front fork bike without getting all beat up. A cyclocross bike may bee a little too aggressive for me at this point from (admittedly) what little I know about them.