[Porsche-O-Phile]

I rode a homebuilt hybrid all through grad. school (commuter bike). Not a bad idea either. Mine was an old Peugeot frame to which I added the slick tires but a set of Rock Shox to the front to make it easier riding on Chicago's pothole-infested streets. That bike was a tank. Still have it. Probably weighs a good 40+ pounds (full steel frame). Commuter bikes are an entirely different discussion, but yea - a hybrid might be a good starter also. True "road bikes" can be a bit delicate if you don't know what you're buying and the cost of maintenance/repairs might be discouraging.