Originally Posted by
FrenchFit
Yeah, well..touring bike makes sense..my vintage Voyaguer has a 40h rear wheel.
But honestly, I think a better option is to get a hardtail mountain bike or better yet ...a 29er, with strong wheels and big tires. You'd be surprised how much speed you can generate, and fun you can have, on a 29er with slick-type 2.0 tires. You won't outgrow the bike, and when you are back in tolerances you'll have dozens of sexy road bikes to choose from.
Besides, body proportion-wise you'll look more capable, natural on a 29er. Price-wise, you can grab one on bikesdirect.com.
I prefer to deal with my local shops over shopping on the internet. My local shop is a specialized dealer, so I would probably be looking at either the Hard Rock Sport Disc 29, or the Rock Hopper 29. I don't know too much about bike specs, but what is the main difference between the two to justify the extra 400 or so in price?