I'm looking to jump into the cycling world with both feet this spring. What I am looking for is a bike for fitness/commuting/and possibly some charity events, club rides or even some gravel riding. . I'm looking for that elusive one quiver bike that will handle most fairly well. 75% of the time will be spent on paved roads. My budget is about $1500 and I am looking at either hybrids or CX bikes. I'd like to upgrade the bike as my skills improve, I'm looking for a fairly relaxed riding postion, I don't need the full on boy racer position, those days are long gone. I was thinking along the lines of the Giant anyroad, Giant fastroad or the specialized sirrus comp disc. Any opinions of the former or alternatives would be welcome.

Seems a pretty straightforward decision to me: select the bar style you prefer (some form of either drop bars or flat bars) and buy accordingly.
Any of the bikes you mention will serve you perfectly well for the uses you describe. The only qualification I'd make to that statement would be to be certain the Giant Fastroad has the tire clearance you want, e.g. for riding gravel roads. I know that the Anyroad and the Sirrus do, as will any CX or 'gravel' bike you look at.

Thanks for the Input. My Major concern is switching to a flat bar hand position...or going to drops that take me out of a comfort position...

You could get a drop bar bike and swap the bar to Nitto's new Albastache moustache bar. That would still give you plenty of hand positions with the comfort of a flat bar bike ride...

If you buy a CX bike, you'll have a versatile bike that can handle anything from light singletrack to road centuries or light racing, and you'll have a bike that should retain a significant portion of its value should you decide to sell. Add a 2nd wheelset and you have a VERY versatile bike. Also, drop handlebars will be more comfortable on long rides. Lots of different hand positions to choose, so you're not stuck in one position for hour after hour the way you are on a flat handlebar.

If you buy a hybrid, you'll get a bike that can handle anything from light single track to light road, but definitely won't be suitable for longer road or for racing. You'll likely take a hit on resale value if you decide to sell it to upgrade in a year or two.

I wouldn't buy a hybrid unless you are 100% sure that's what you're going to still want to be riding in a couple of years.

FWIW, I bought a hybrid when I got back into cycling in early 2013. Took me about 6 months to realize that what I really wanted to do was ride on the road. Bought a road bike later that year and a CX bike in early 2014. Sold the hybrid for half what I paid last fall. The only thing it did better than my road and CX bikes was pick up groceries, and my 1985 Univega does that for teh cost of a few repairs.

YMMV, but I think CX with an extra wheelset is as close as most people can get to a universal bike unless they have a serious yen to spend lots of time riding singletrack.

BB

Even though we're in the Hybrid section I agree that a CX or at least a "gravel grinder" (Generally more relaxed and not as agressive as a full CX and with more road appropriate gearing like the Giant Anyroad, Trek Crossrip, Specialized Diverge ) would be best suited to your requirements. Charity Events and Club rides you'll find mostly roadies and you'll be pushing to keep up with them on a flatbar hybrid. You can ride on the cross bars and be pretty upright and still go on the drops if you need to. Spare thing tires for road are nice but not a necessity.


Just to throw a curve ball....... if you want to remove the gravel part you could go a Endurance/Sportive type bike which is more relaxed geometry road bike (Avanti Cadent, Giant Defy, Specialized Roubaix, Trek Madone ) .

I've actually just sold my CX (Ridley X-bow ) and now have my Trek DS 8.4 for gravel/firetrails/forestry tracks and bought a Endurance Road (Avanti Cadent ERII 2) purely for road. I'm commuting (4-40 kms (yes sometimes I take the long way home) with a backpack on the Cadent without an issue on this 50 year old body. Might be another (non-hybrid) option

Is this bike a CX or gravel grinder?
JAMIS BICYCLES

I am liking the looks, specs, price.

I went with a Rivendell Sam Hillborne when I was looking for something similar. I found a used one for $1,600, but new they will obviously be more than you want to spend.

Maybe something like this Specialized Bicycle Components

Thanks. Bbbean... I think I am leaning in that General direction.

I think this thread is reading my mind. Thanks

I have trails, tracks, dirt roads all around and if I was to have a single bike it would definitely be a "gravel grinder". Sadly (?!?) I have more than one !

I'd take a hard look at the CX or the endurance drop bar bikes. I was in your exact position about 8 months ago. I was looking to do the same type of riding. I rode several different hybrids and ended up with a Giant Escape 3. I'm already eyeing up the Specialized Diverge. I really like the Escape but ride it on the road 75% of the time to try and get in shape. I also ride it on the local rail trails with my wife. My hands were getting tired from one position. I added bar ends and that has helped a lot. But at the end of the day I wish I had started with a drop bar bike. At least now I know what I want! Good luck.

Or get a flat Bar Bike and swap over to figure 8 Bend Trekking Bars , and swap over all the controls in a few minutes . without doing any de cabling..

I have them on my Rohloff grip shifted bike.. , Mustache + an extra bend, inward to the rear ..

2 different bikes. Biggest difference is the handlebar. Style of your riding, and your position is the clue for the right choice.