Originally Posted by
Newbiker10
I want to find a bike that allows me to take weekend rides on country roads and paved trails, but also something that wouldn't be completely useless if I come across a patch of trail that's not perfectly paved. So I'm thinking this eliminates road bikes (not versatile enough) and mountain bikes (too clunky).
What am I looking for? A hybrid or a cyclocross bike?
This is definitely a gravel/cyclocross bike situation. These bikes fit the same large tires as a hybrid, but the drop bar setup is better suited for longer weekend rides. Some road bikes might also work, but I would avoid older road bikes as they are usually will only fit very narrow tire sizes.
Finding a decent used gravel/CX bike in 56cm-58cm sizing for $500 will be a big challenge. We are rolling into fall so there may be some bikes showing up on Craigslist that have been sitting around all summer collecting dust, but the used bike market is still pretty hot so these things will not last long.
Good luck!