Hi, I'm new to this forum and I've got a question for you bikeheads out there. Currently I have a mountain bike, a Specialized Rockhopper, which I ride a lot actually, to and from work, to the store, etc. I probably put 10-20 miles on it a few days a week. The problem with it though is that since it wasn't designed to be a commuting bike, it's very slow and sluggish. With the price of gas going up I want to get a different, faster bike that I can ride all the time in lieu of using my car (longer trips, etc.)

I live in Gainesville, FL, which is a bike friendly city without a lot of huge hills.

Can anyone recommend a bike they would think would fit my needs? A brand and style? Fixed gear? Straight handlebars? U bars? I've only ridden a mountain bike for years so I'd like to get something that goes fast!

Thanks in advance, take care.