Originally Posted by
Altbark
You've got to do the same thing. Get yourself a bike you can afford for the kind of riding you want to do. Ride it for awhile and either change it for something more suited for what you want to do or modify as required. Unfortunately, there are few shortcuts in this life. Al
Well said. Road bike for the club rides/racing, cyclocross for everything else. Most serious cyclists have several bikes in their stable, gathered over time.
I'd go with the lightest road bike I could afford. It can do it all except off road. Get a mtb from a box store for that until you can afford better.