If I were looking for a new roadbike, I'd get a bike that takes long reach brakes that can accommodate a little fatter tire and I'd build it up with a little wider rim (23 as opposed to the more conventional 19-20 mm). This set-up won't slow you down but if you get tired of riding with racers, you still have a comfortable road bike. I'd get the Soma Stanyan: http://www.somafab.com/archives/prod...anyan-frameset. Or the soma smoothie es: http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/es

For an off road bike, I'd get a Salsa. I think Salsa makes a number of really well though out offroad adventure bikes. They're changing over their models for 2014 fairly soon and you might be able to pick up a 2013 on a discount. You could pick up one of their drop bar offroad bikes or this, http://www.salsacycles.com/bikes/mamasita/. In any case, I'd check out their webpage if you want "Something interesting, different, unusual yet competent and "good""