Well if you don't mind the extra weight (it's going to work you harder) and you don't care about top end and you change out the tires like Chest mentioned...nothing really.

The weight wouldn't bother me. I would imagine it'd help my rides from a fitness perspective.

I just asked because when I did ride bikes that was really all I was accustomed to.

Yeah it probably won't make that big of a difference on a 6 mile ride. But for any serious rider, weight is evil. And definitely avoid anything with a full suspension, especially on a low-end bike, that's going to add a crapton of completely unnecessary weight.

if youre serious about doing this from now on you need to plop down around $500-$600.. the money u save from gas will pay for that quickly. Or you could buy a cheap bike like i did for like $150 then a year later after you've gone to the bike repair shop 100 times you'll realize you should have spent some more money on it.

I wouldn't mind going the the learner, cheaper bike route first. If it is something for me i could always buy a better bike down the line.

And keep in mind i live in Kansas - i probably won't be riding 4-6 months out of the year. At least to work anyway.

Yeah, nothing at all wrong w/mtb's. Like Bugeater said heavier and lower top end. If you're good with that you'll probably appreciate the extra gears. And the fact that you really don't need any suspension will bring down the cost. Basically you're getting a performance hybrid with more gears but no hipster markup. A circa 1995 hardtail w/o suspension fork mtb in good shape like a Specialized hardrock (I think someone mentioned this bike earlier, props.) or Giant iguana sounds like something that would work well for you.

I had and absolutely loved both of those bikes in the past. Wish I hadn't sold them.

Re: too high vs. low gearing that Bugeater mentioned, that makes sense with the hybrid. We're apples to oranges on that one. My race bike has more balls than I have brains, but then again, that's what makes it so much fun. I can't spin it out on a downhill at 75 kph (it's not even in top gear at that; hell the top pros can sprint that on a flat); I've had it around 100, but fear of death outweighed curiosity so I was feathering the brakes rather than spinning so I don't know if I can out spin it. Someday maybe my handling skills will approach it's performance, but it's more likely my confidence will just outrun my ability and things will end poorly.

kph? Are you in Canada? I had to go out to the car and see what that means in US speed, which looks to be around 40 mph. Yeah, that's freaking flying on a bike. I'm spun out around 25 mph on my hybrid, although I did manage to somehow get it to 29.8 one time by catching a sweet draft. But no way I could maintain a speed like that for any amount of time on that damn thing. I'm real anxious to get out and find out what the new one can do, but yeah, I don't want to die trying.

LMAO

No gawdammit I'm a real ****ing 'murican (queue the Hulk Hogan music). Ok, East Coaster, but don't hold that against me. I was born in Kansas and raised in Missouri.

I do the metrics re: cycling because that's what I'm used to being accepted in the culture. I live in DC and my normal rides average about 17 mph over hilly terrain. I ride with a lot of bike messengers recreationally, which is when my ego overtakes my sense and things go to weaving in and out of traffic at 30-35 (that sounds pretty slow until you're on a bike in stop and go traffic with a bunch of east coast drivers) mph and going 60ish on long downhills.

I'm getting a little smarter as I become an old ass man and cutting way back on those shenanigans.

ROFL
A pink bike and the gay flag on his uniform. Yeah that's not sexy. Well unless you're a homo.

I bought a pacific dual shock in 99.Thing is tough as a tank. But the dual shock really saps momentum. I just started getting back into riding late last summer. I realized that I really need to get a single. But I love having a mountain bike. Love having the option of being able to ride nature trails as well as streets /sidewalks.

Now that i know this -- i am going to hunt you down and Grand Theft Auto your ass.

I've also got a pos that I've been riding because it is old and has no suspension. When you get your bike, feel free to hit me up if you wanna go ride.

Btw chest Rockwell, I was j/k about the homo. NTTAWWT

Also if nobody has told you yet, the Shunga/Landon trails are good concrete trails through town for recreational riding.

Ah, gotcha. I don't do traffic at all. I stick to shared use trails which aren't designed with speed in mind but there are some occasional stretches where you can haul some ass. I hit the 29.8 on a descent on a recently paved "rail trail", so no sharp turns or potholes or other surprises to worry about. I usually average 15 mph or so on my hybrid, so again, I'm anxious to see how much I can improve that on the road bike.