Originally Posted by archermd

just to clarify things itn should be obvious that i am new to this, which explains my ignorance
i am a compulsive researcher prior to any big purchase
i have looked at may bikes
i will be mostly on paved roads but worried about shoulders, dirt roads, gravel, and rails-to-trails
i therefore was thinking a 23 tire is too narrow
i have a bad back and generous belly
flat bars might seem good but over time they limit hand position options
flat bars with rapid shifters seem easier to use, at least in the beginning, than drop bar brifters
geometry of a spec tricross or trek pilot or spec sirrus or trek fx all seem ok for me
spec roubaix seems a bit much and only has skinny tires
i suspect a triple gear gives me more options to help climb hills
is the spec tricross comp triple a good idea for what i plan to do?
oh there are just too many options