So, I'm looking to get my first 'serious' bike... I'd like to spend between $750-$1000 for the bike and necessary starting accessories...

I would like a bike to commute to class (about 1 1/2 miles and a BIG hill), possibly do some rails-to-trails type trails, and some road biking....

Now I realize one bike will not do all of this well.. I'm going to have to lean either towards the rails to trails and be slow on roads or toward road biking and not really be able to do rail to trails. Anyway, this is what I have gathered thus far...

I'm thinking I'll have a lot more opportunity to do road/fitness biking than I will getting out on something like the New river trail. But I would hate to limit myself too much...

Soooo... I've got shops in the area that carry Raleigh, Trek, Cannondale and Janis...

I'm looking at the Raleigh Cadent, the Trek Fx, the Trek DS, Cannondale Quick or Quick CX, and the Janis Coda...

If I get something like the Raleigh Cadent (which definitely tilts toward the road end of the spectrum) will be unable to really take this on a rails-to-trails type situation? Can you get a second set of wider tires for it? Will that be enough?

If i get something like the Trek 8.4 DS - Will I be slow as crap road biking? Will it be enjoyable to use this as a road bike? or will I be limited to commuting and light trails?

If I get something like the Janis Coda Sport - Will the extra weight of the steel frame make the giant hill going up to my house totally painful? will the steel frame make noticeable difference in comfort when doing Rails to trails?

In short - I would like to lean towards the road bike end of the hybrid spectrum, but still be able to do rails to trails... even if that means getting a 2nd set of wider tires... What's the best option?

And I'm 5 7" 220lbs 38 years old... portly to say the least... I'm in poor but not terrible shape as I'm an avid hiker/backpacker, but hoping that adding cycling to my daily routine will get me back to a normal weight...

too much info??

Help...

Javasligner