Originally Posted by
TiHabanero
You have found the answer to your dilemma in the last sentence you posted. One machine that can truly do it all must be a mountain bike, preferably a 29er for the superbe tire selection and excellent roll on and off road. Gotta make mods to the drive train, and it won't be cheap as the shifters must be changed to brifters, etc.
That's what I've been figuring. I'm already factoring in the drivetrain changes. I bent a chainring and though it was bent back into place, hasn't been quite right since(though adequate for the time being). I don't even use the lowest two gears climbing off-road and I'm considering a 2x setup. I'm torn between brifters and bar-ends. I've enjoyed bar-ends in the past but I'm not sure how they would feel on flared bars. I'll also want to swap the budget suspension fork for a fixed. I'm ready for the costs but selling the other bike ought to more than offset it anyway.