General Cycling Discussion - Not sure which bike to choose.

I haven't ridden a bike for over 15 years. Not regularly, anyway. Back in the late 80's, early 90's, my bike of choice was a racing bike, a Tiger Veloce. It is a light weight bike with the spaghetti-thin tires. It was a really neat ride. I don't remember if my hands or rear hurt after long rides, as it was ages ago.
I also had a mountain bike, a three triangle frame GT Outpost. I loved that bike. I used it for my bicycle delivery job, since it could take more of a beating then the Racer.
I have used the GT here in Florida recently, and can't help but notice that my hands really hurt after riding it for a while. Granted, at 37, I am a bit older then I was when I used to ride it all the time. Plus, injuries to my hands (as a former alligator wrestler, I have been bit quite a few times, and my hands are not what they used to be) might be a factor.
So, now, my question is. I am not looking to ride the trails other then occasionally, if even that. I am not looking to race on the road either. I just want to ride for a while. Long distance riding, I guess. What I want to know is, what would you guys suggest I do? Put fatter tires and mod the road racing bike, or put slicks and mod the mountain bike? I am not looking for speed, just comfort, you know?

There is a type of bike made for folks like you, if I read you correctly. It's called a hybrid. It has a little fatter tire, usually comes with a triple, and are a great all around bike. I have one that has over 14000 miles on it. and was my only bike for years. You may want to test drive one and see how it feels to you. Good luck and safe ridding.

A triple crankset is nigh-on useless for riding in Florida. Wider tires are definitely a good idea - if the racing bike has the clearance for them. Cushier bar tape would be a good idea too. The potential drawback to using the racing bike would be that you might want to carry some small things around with you, and you might not have a place to mount a rack.

No place to mount the rack?
Really? Damn. I thought you could mount them on anything.
Hmmm...... I also thought about the Hybrid, but am kind've economically strapped right now, having just moved. I was trying to make do with what I have.
I'm gonna have to think about this for a bit.
Maybe sell the racer, if I can't mod it? Use the money to buy me a Hybrid?
But the Mountain Bike is a bit heavy. Maybe I'll sell that?
Hmmm.....

I think all you might need is a riser stem for the MTB, to get some weight off your hands, and some slicks.

Little known fact: If you take an xc type mountain frame, put a shorter, higher rise stem on it, and some skinnier slick tires, it magically transforms into a "hybrid", which is itsself really just a stupid word for "normal bike" in most cases.

pretty sure that hands hurting is a lack of core strength. It happens to most of us as we age because we don't ride enough due to the demands of work and family. What length ride causes your problems? The long distance forum is for rides where 100 miles is considered a short ride. I'm moving this to general cycling.

Thank you, Unterhausen. I was originally going to put it here in the general section, but wasn't sure.
as for length that causes me problems? Right now, anything over twenty miles. I used to be able to go a lot further when I was younger, but that is just about it for me in my present state.
Kludgefudge..... that's what I thought. LOL.

I would see how wide of tires will fit on the road bike, then get some aerobar clip-ons, this will take add a new hand position that lets you take some pressure off you hands by resting your elbow on the pads. Now if you can only get 25 mm width tires on the bike then it won't go trail riding.