Originally Posted by Lenton58

If you want a weather machine that is stable and yet a keen and fast urban bike for hill or dale, consider the custom hyrid. All you need to really find is a double or triple butted frame designed for no suspension. Hopefully it will have a decent BB and a crank-set with some life left in it. (I'd go with steel) The headset and stem may be a tank, but let's hope for better. Almost certainly you will be looking to replace and upgrade a saddle, post, peddles, clips/straps, wheels/hubs and tires — possibly brakes. Believe me, for a spiffy ride it will still be cheaper than a complete store bought bike — just get a good frame for peanuts. And so you will! Find a Gary Fisher or Trek ... blah blah.

You will have to study a lot of stuff on how to put this all together — like here at B.F., Park Tools and the archive of the late and much-missed Sheldon Brown.