You want a ’cross bike

If you want a new bike, but don’t know what kind of bike you want, you want a ’cross bike.

If you think you might ride a self-supported tour, you want a ’cross bike.

If you think you might commute by bike, you want a ’cross bike.

If you think you might ride offroad on fire roads or ridgeline trails, you want a ’cross bike.

If you think you might tow a trailer full of kids, you want a ’cross bike.

If you think you might ride a crit in the industrial park, you want a ’cross bike.

If you think you might do a rando, you want a ’cross bike.

If you think you might race cyclocross, you want a ’cross bike.

The only thing you really need to change, for any of these uses, are the tires. 35c and knobby for dirt, 30c with treads for pavement and heavy loads, 25c and slick for pavement and going fast. If you do any of these things more than 5 times a year dedicate a set of wheels to that use. Don’t ride off pavement or haul loads with your racing wheels, and don’t ride on the pavement all time with your knobbies.

You definitely want one with fender eyelets and rack braze-ons. Otherwise it can be steel or aluminum or carbon-fiber, heavy or light, cheap or expensive. The more you spend the lighter it will be.