Just remember: The bigger the tire, the lower the air pressure, and the slower the speed. Likewise, thin tires with high air pressure equal greater speed.

If you really want to cut across grass, dirt, gravel, etc., get a Trek 7000 series, preferrably 7300 or higher.

If you want to go fast, get something more roadlike.

I just bought the Soho 1.0 by Trek, and couldn't be happier with it (unless I won it in a contest or something).

I think it was underpriced at $699 out the door (tax included).

I rode it to work and back for the first time today (not my first time riding to work and back, but it was on this new bike), and I wasn't sitting down, in first gear, struggling to get up the hills. I was up on my feet and out of the saddle, swinging my handlebars and jamming up those hills like I was running up the stairs.

I just turned a steep, nasty hill outside my neighborhood into a 30-second sprint. I cut two minutes off my commute on that hill alone.

The second hill is worse. I ended up sitting for half of it, riding in first gear. Still have to work on that.

But the third hill, again, I stood up and sprinted up it.

I shaved five minutes off my time (and that included a couple wrong turns).

My goal is twenty minutes.