Superior to what?

I only find my MTB superior on the one day a week I load up the panniers or during the winter months or when I'm up for a trail ride home. Otherwise the roadie's more fun.

Back to the MTB subject, here are some of my favorites:

Trek 950 - 990
Diamond Back Apex
MB-3 or less
GT Karakoram, Avalanche or Zaskar
Specialized Stumpjumper
Bianchi Grizzly (gotta go back to 92 or so for a stock rigid, though)
The two in my sig,

etc, etc.

Just to weigh in on the disc brake debate, I own 2 bikes with disc brakes and my dad owns one. fyi, disc brake pads are usually *supposed* to be self adjusting, moving themselves inward as the pads wear down so you don't need to touch them until the pads need replacing.

My first bike is my winter bike. It has the Alfine disc brakes. It required constant adjustment of the front brake the brake would rub, squeal, etc. And if you took the wheels off and put them back on (which I was doing as it was my winter bike, so I'd put different tires on during the summer), holy cow what a pain to get them right again. I tried everything - truing the rotor, readjusting the pads, etc. The mechanic said the adjustment ended up with the pads all the way to one side, so it might have been that the fork had the holes for the disc brakes drilled slightly wrong.

Eventually (different story) I got the front fork replaced, and ever since then they've been much, much nicer, not really requiring any adjustments at all (though to be fair I don't think I've taken the front tire off), though they still squeal sometimes (only when braking) if they get wet or snow in them or - something. The mechanic thought the hole was drilled slightly off on the fork which was causing all the adjustment issues.

On my second bike, a mountain bike with Avid Juicy 7's, my disc brakes have been flawless. I should note that I've only been on like 10 rides with it, and since it's a mountain bike I don't really ride it in the rain, but so far they've required absolutely no adjustment, there's been no squealing - nothin' - flawless.

So...it's a mixed bag. Seems like constant adjustments aren't a necessary part of disc brakes, but manufacturers still aren't quite familiar with them enough to have them work flawlessly every time.

a cheap 29r would be ok, redline monocog... kona unit.

The issue with using a MTB for commuting is that a lot of manufacturers don't consider racks or fenders. If you get a mtb be sure it has eyelets on the fork and frame for mounting fenders and a rack(not unworkable but very annoying). If you go with a 26" modern mtb it will have short chainstays and your feet may hit the pannier bags. You'll also have to fork out a bit of cash for the set of slick tires since mtb will come with knobby tires.

A hybrid bicycle sounds more like what you want if you're not going to be doing offroading and need the heavy components. It has gearing which is ok for hills too.

bikesdirect stuff is usually is fine, you'll have to be confident to tinker with the bicycle though.

Skinny tires, roadie bikes. I can plow through all kinds of "debris" that scares many riders.

Rankin eh? My Son in law is a Rankin, you're not from WY or KS are you?

They make thick-tread tires and Mr. Tuffies for road bikes. I even take my road bike out on smooth trails from time to time. The only "debris" that scares me is ice and snow. Then I really like my MTB with spikes on the front tire.

I'm not sure where "GVR, NV" is exactly, from your description I assume it's a worn-torn country in the midst of a civil war!

I personally live in the US, where I'm fortunate enough not have to surmount large trees or the results of small artillery fire on the roadway, so here skinny tire road bikes are vastly superior over the those slow, silly mountain bikes.

(note - yes, that is all very, very tongue-in-cheek)

Tongue in cheek noted. GVR, NV = Green Valley Ranch (who are they kidding, only the golf courses have grass these days) NV as in 15 miles SE of the Strip.

Debris includes constant construction, road resurfacing snakes (saw one this morning) and Gila Monsters. Plus this is the rockiest dang part of the world. Our rocks are harder and pointier than any where in the world. I keep three sets of rims set up for commuting, mixed and HEY, lets go stupid fast and get some stitches.

I quit riding skinny tires in the 80s when the storm drains used to grab my front wheel and send me cartwheeling. Plus training wheels are too short for them tall skinny tire bikes.

Mountain Bikes - agreed, superior to road bikes when regularly jumping Gila monsters.