As I've been getting plenty of opinions from lots of sources including the LBS, I believe I'm going to look for an older MTN bike and do what I did back in '97 when I had my bike shop. I had a Specialized Stumpjumper non suspended that I bought a set of road wheels for. Might just do that again but would like to find one I could put larger wheels on. I know the 29s would be a choice to do that with but then I might as well buy a new hybrid. Just the thrill of putting something together. My son had an early 90's rockhopper that I did something similar to but he left it at the apartments when he moved! Doh! Also, to confuse the issue more, what about a cyclcross bike with flat bars?