Introductions - new to forum

Hi everyone,

It's the dead of winter up here in west central nh but I am looking forward to biking this spring. I returing to biking after 10 + years. I always rode a mountain bike but I am thinking of getting something more suitable for the road. I am looking for recommendations for a new bike for the road. I injured my lower back last year, so I don't want anything too bent over. Then again, I don't want a mtn bike style that is slow on the road. I'd appreciate any suggestions. I look forward to checking out the various forums.

Welcome to Bike Forums!

Are you looking for a road bike with upright geometry or more of a commuter/hybrid with flat handlebars?

Welcome to Bike Forums.
A bunch of us Fifty Plus riders have found that the forward lean on a road bike will actually make your back pain go away.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. I own a 15+ old trek mtn bike and part of me was thinking of putting on some less aggressive tires and ride that until I figure out what I want in more detail.

I was looking at road bikes w/flat bars such as the specialized sirrus, trek fx, giant rapide, etc.... One worry that I have about getting a specific road bike is that I have to travel 1/4 a mile on a sometimes-poorly maintained dirt road before getting to the pavement. I'm not sure if anyone else has had experience with this. 10 wheels, thanks for the note about the drop-bar bikes being less stressful on the back than I assumed.

Cyclocross bikes usually have bars level with seat, and tires 32-35 mm wide to cope with less than perfect roads. Kona Jake the Snake and Specialized Tricross are typical examples. Ask for help in the cyclocross and commuter subforums. Exercises to strengthen the stomach muscles can help with lower back pain.

thanks for the recommendations everyone. After some research on my own, I was thinking a cx bike would fit the bill

One worry that I have about getting a specific road bike is that I have to travel 1/4 a mile on a sometimes-poorly maintained dirt road before getting to the pavement. I'm not sure if anyone else has had experience with this. 10 wheels, thanks for the note about the drop-bar bikes being less stressful on the back than I assumed.

I ride a touring bike with downturned handlebars, as opposed to a road bike with twitchier geometry. I do maybe 3-5 percent of my riding on gravel, preferably gravel that's not too loose. I can go places with 32x700c tires that would be difficult with the 28x700c I used to ride. I don't care for flat handlebars for long rides. Some problems with numbness went away when I switched to a real touring bike.