What should I do !!!
 

I am going crazy trying to decide what type of bike to get. I wil be buying a new bike in the next week or so and it will be used mainly as a commuter. I will also use it for longer rides on my days off. I am stuck between a mountain and putting some good street tires on it, or going for a road bike, either a flat bar road bike or a drop bar. The only bikes I have had in the past were mountain bikes with no suspension and were mainly used on streets. I have only ridden a road bike a couple of times, and liked the feel of them. My commute to work is only a couple miles, so speed isn't a big factor, but when I take it out for say a 50 mile round trip ride I am thinking I would like the bennifits of the road bike. I just don't know what to get. I also cant decide if I want a flat bar roadie or a traditional drop bar style roadie, pretty confused here, HELP !!

One more thing. The bike will also get ridded in the rain since this will be my main transportation for awhile. Dont know if that helps or not, but just wanted to say that.

It sounds like you should go for a flat bar road bike, aka fitness or hybrid, with enough frame clearance to mount fenders and a rear rack if needed.

I'd suggest either a Giant CRX, or one of their comfort bikes with 700c wheels. The top ones even have disc brakes - perfect for the rain.

Some of the flat bar road bikes have issues with mounting fenders. Check that you have adaquate clearance plus the threaded eyelets on frame and fork plus brake bolt holes.
The Giant CRX (also called an FCR) lacks the fork eyelets.
Specilaized Sirrus and jamis Coda are both popular examples that seem to work OK.

You can get practical drop bar bikes which have more generous tyre clearance plus rack and fender fittings. These are usually classed as light-touring or road-sport bikes. The key feature is the brake design. Std caliper brakes have very tight clearance and will only take narrow racing tyres. Longer drop calipers have sufficient for all-weather use. Cantelever brakes (as used on touring and cyclo cross) have more than enough.

Bob, I was in exactly the same boat as you a few weeks ago. Wanted a new bike for commuting mostly, and kept telling myself that a hybrid made logical sense for commuting. The hybrids were cheaper too. But every time i saw the flat bar road bike, that was what i felt drawn too. My head was saying one thing, my heart the other. Finally the LBS owner said to take one of the roadies for a spin....and it went like a dream! The feel...the speed...the flat bars...everything...just felt right. I knew straight away that i could commute on this baby, a Giant CRX, and also go out for long rides and cruise or get some speed up if i want. So Bob, for what it's worth, go with your heart, not your head. Good luck with your selection. :)