Poker

I have been interested in buying a new bike but I am not sure what type of bike to get. I have thought about getting a mountian bike to ride on the trails but I think I would spend more time riding the bike on the road. To get to most of the closest trails it is quite a long drive or ride and I don't like the idea of having to waste time to get there. Because I am busy with other sports I don't have as much time to travel to the trails. With a road bike I can just ride from my house anywhere and that will make things much easier and save time. But I am not sure if I should just get a mountian bike because I can ride on both the trails and the road. With a road bike I can only go on the road. I am mainly riding for fitness and enjoyment, I am only a 15 y.o boy and mountian biking looks more like my thing but traveling to the trails is annoying. What type bike would you recommend to me?

McFlurrey06

Well you can't drive, so that means you have to get someone to take you there. Don't take me the wrong way, but I'm guessing you don't have a steady job, and your parents are paying for this. You do raise a god point about just jumping on and riding, that reason there is why I went with a road bike. That is where I ride, so I bought a bike suited for that.

What is your budget?
What is the terrain like where you live? Is it hilly or flat?

Poker

Their are quite a few hills in my area and to get to my house I have to go up a few hills. I have a budget of about $850 is that enough for a road bike? I am quite fit and if I got a road bike I would use it to help mantain my fitness for rugby during the off-season.

Retro Grouch 

Is there a group of people whom you envision yourself riding with? If that's the case, get a bike that's similar to theirs.

CSG

A hybrid might be just want you want.

McFlurrey06

A hybrid would probably be perfect for you.

Poker

Can you give me an example of a good hybrid bike

Poker

Would this be okay: https://www.specialized.com/au/gb/bc/...=Path%2FGravel

Jimi77

Get a MTB, you'll be driving soon and can go to the trails....

lucille

I also think a hybrid would be perfect for what you want. I would suggest Specialized Sirrus, because I have one and love it
Here's the base model, you can go up if it's in your budget. https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...4&menuItemId=0

I would change tires to touring ones, which will allow you to ride on dirt road and packed gravel with no problems, but will still be smooth on pavement. Tires like this: https://www.rei.com/product/709110/co...-tire-26-x-175 or this: https://www.rei.com/product/731367/co...ntact-700-tire
You may want to go a little wider than 26, I have 32 tires on my Sirrus.

And speaking of budget, don't forget about all the extras you will probably want with your bike. Helmet (hopefully), good lock, bell, couple spare tubes, basic multitool, pump, chain grease, lights. Maybe even rack and fenders if you think you will need them. It all adds up pretty quickly, but most stores will give a discount if bought at the same time as the bike, make sure to ask.

Poker

Thank you for the replies I think I will most likely get a hybrid or a mountian bike and when I ride on the road I will use a slick tyre

MLKATO

That's a great option. I chose a mountain bike because I wanted a do it all. I can change tires if I want to and go with the more road option. If you only have one bike,you'll want one that is sturdy and durable,which is why most of us with one bike perfer mountain bike.

plodderslusk

I would go for something like this :
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...m_cross_xi.htm
I love the versatility of the CX-bike. Ok on road, great on gravel and light singletrack and you can take it on rougher tracks if you accept walking the harder parts.

Plecks

+1 for a cyclocross bike. Put on slicks and its basically a road bike, put on some big knobby's and you can tear it up off-road.

JonathanGennick 

The bike I use for just riding around the neighborhood is a mountain bike with a rigid fork (no suspension) on which I've mounted slick tires. I could fairly easily swap out the tires and take the bike on a trail if I wanted to, so long as I didn't want suspension. (And all the trails where I live can be ridden w/o suspension).

Something like the Surly Troll might work for you, but I'm not sure you could build one for your budget.

Another versatile bike that I have is a Salsa Fargo. It is a road-like bike having drop bars, but the frame is built for singeltrack and the bike is capable of running full-on, mountain-bike tires. I run some tires with small, closely-spaced knobs that are good compromise for pavement + dirt-roads + hardpark. That bike is definitely out of your budget, but the concept is sound.

What I like about the above bikes is that both are solid enough that I can ride up and down curbs, play around at the skate park, etc.