Recreational & Family - Comfort vs. Hybrid Bike?

It's been a good 20 years since I've been on a bike but I'd like to get started again. I'm looking for a bike primarily for two purposes: to ride on paved trails maybe once a week for a few hours and to tow the kids in a trailer on paths and around the neighborhood.

Spent some time at the LBS and narrowed it down to the Gary Fisher Solstice (a comfort bike similar to Trek Navigator 400) and Trek 7200 hybrid. Both are priced similarly...Solstice is a 2002, Trek 7200 is a 2003. The major tradeoff seems to comfort/stability versus speed/efficiency (26" vs. 700 cm wheel).

I really like the comfort/stability of the Solstice but trying to determine if the difference in speed/efficiency is going to make that much of a difference? I don't wanna be the guy struggling up the hills cause I went for the comfy ride. Any insights or recommendations would be most appreciated. Also, I've seen lots of posts about the 7200, any comments on the Solstice itself...is it a good bike? Thanks in advance for the help! :)

I'd choose the hybrid for two reasons, one aesthetic (which doesn't really apply to you) and the other practical.

The practical reason is that I think you can grow with a hybrid; should you find that you'd like to ride longer distances as well as gain speed and efficiency in your riding, the hybrid design would prove the more accommodating. The comfort model isn't really designed for longer rides and isn't as aerodynamically efficient. You might even find that the comfort bike isn't quite so comfy after a significant time on the saddle (I infer this last from others' statements, as I don't own a true 'comfort model').

The aesthetic reason: comfort bikes just look odd. I think my Trek has a bit too much rise in the bars, but it's nothing on the weird geometry of some of these comfort types! That's a personal thing though. :D

-Rob

I say buy a Hybrid with braze-ons and buy another set of tires so you have road tires and a set of knobbies. Presto! A bike for the road, trail or touring with the change of a tire:D

I got the Trek 7200 and have been pretty darn happy with it since.. i found that it rolled more and farther than the plain out comfort bikes (the navigators) when i did a coast test down the hill.. it was noticably farther.. I've enjoyed it alot! i'd recommend it.