I've driven my wife to the brink. She doesn't know anything about bikes and that in itself is disturbing. After 13 years of marriage and at least 10 of those with me commuting, looking at bike porn, racing on road bikes and doing some light mountain biking - you'd assume she would have assimilated some knowledge.

I digress, I love my wife and am grateful for her existence daily.

If you've followed anything I've said over the last couple years, I'm a grad student - and have been one for a freaking long time. I'm also prone to fits of stupidity. The combination has created a bizarre past, present and future for me.

I have had to sell all my bikes to make ends meet. Tight finances are what they are, and frankly selling my beloved bikes hasn't made me happy or better off financially.

In the meantime, I have found that my family vehicle is not saving me money and my wife and I have agreed that instead of me finding "side solutions," I need to get back on a bike.

A lot of words to get to the point - I'm shopping (or pre-shopping). I recently approached the local bike shop owner and convinced him that I will use my ability to write to his advantage. I will write stories about his customers, about cycling and cycling etiquette and all things cycling for his website and facebook page. In essence, I've agreed to be his public relations guru for the last year I am here while I finish up grad school. In exchange for that, I asked for the one thing that is worth more than a measly hourly rate -- I asked for the employee discounted rate. He agreed and here we are.

With all that said, if you're still reading, I'm down to 4 potential candidate bikes. No, I will not buy used. I'm a broke grad student but I still refuse to buy crap down here. People don't take care of their stuff and cheap is cheap - no matter what flavor you call it (Adding the word French does not make vanilla more vanilla - imho).

2012 CAAD10-4 Rival - Sexy bike. I can't put a rack on it, the wheels won't put up with much luggage (English professors always want you to have books - I know, odd) and in general its a race bike. But I so lament selling my CAAD9-5 and this is one amazingly beautiful bike that is right in my financial sweetspot and is just porn worthy.

2012 Salsa Spearfish - Not even close to the same category of bike. But I could get a bit of universal usage out of one bike. Combined with my intentions to move my family to Colorado after I graduate next year - it seems like the perfect "compromise."

2012 Surly Special Ops Pugsley - Yet another versatility bike. Snow bike, check. ****ty road bike, check. Wanna go ride over the levy and see how many Border Patrol agents I can get stirring trying to figure out why this "anglo" is messing with their river and fence, check. So much potential - really big tires.

2012 Surly Ogre - Same as above, more economical if something blows up and I have to replace it? I don't know - I love the Surly Ogre and Pug for what they are, what they are capable of and what they mean for my wife and kids (slower riding that they can actually keep up with on family rides).

2012 Raleigh Roper. This bike has so much potential. Raleigh hasn't made a name for itself being the shining star of anything. But if there is one thing I know, its that components compliment a frame. This thing looks bulletproof. Add in a 105 complete drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes on a steel framed "touring" bike and it seems like the ultimate commuter. Bonus: It has longevity in Colorado through snow, sleet and other crap combined with the CX ability of riding a bit of gravel road.

So what are your thoughts?

FS MB? Rigid 29er. Road bike of my dreams or the versatility of the roper? I know there have been a plethora of "what bike" threads in BF history. Hell, I've been a contributor, naysayer and even heckler of many of them in years past. But in this one, know that I'm asking you - my fellow bike enthusiasts what you would do if you had a budget capable of buying just one of these bikes and you were not willing to compromise or look outside of this four horsemen set?