Originally Posted by
sminnes
I have struggled with road bikes in the past because of the posture (hand pain, wrist pain, neck pain), but that could well be the fit. Do I lose so much speed and agility on a 29 MTB (say KM) that the comfort isn't worth it?
My karate monkey fits in a nice semi upright position. It definitely does not lack speed or agility. Tires have a lot to do with handling, but even with 2.3 exiwolfs it is plenty nimble. I pop up and down curbs, through grassy off-road areas and through a good 6 inches of snow. I ride it a lot on the road, and I can keep up with almost everyone with a single speed road bike around here. A comfortable bike is a fun bike.
for $1000 you could pick up something really nice. At a local shop in Minneapolis they have
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/bik/482294163.html