Relaxed (nonslouching) position on bike; 24-speed gearing with SRAM grip shifters using an SRAM 5.0 rear derailer and Shimano Alvio front derailer (very smooth shifting!); adjustable handlebars; quick release suspension seat-post.

The RST 700-7 front shocks are spring loaded and seem meant for light duty on the street. These shocks tend to be a bit mushy and sometimes will sink slightly without the bike encountering a bump. Still, the RSTs are probably better than no shocks at all.

The suspension seat post also has a tendency to sink a bit. I replaced the spring-loaded seat with a Specialized Body Geometry saddle, and that is far more comfortable than the overwide foam cushion saddle that comes with the 2000 model of this bike. I don't think you can ride too far on Mongoose's supplied wide foam saddle -- there's too much chaffing.

The adjustable handlebars are nice but somewhat heavy. My Crossways 350 bike had a problem in that the part that holds the handlebar stem into the frame was improperly seated, causing the handlebar stem to easily twist. It caused me to fall off this bike once. It was probably just a mistake made by the Performance bikeshop that assembled the bike.

The Cheng Shin tires (700 x 38C) have slits in them for traction in the dirt. Unfortunately, you pick up small pebbles on every ride that could work their way into the tread. These tires will ride on the dirt, but I wouldn't think you'd want to try them on anything else but a fairly level dirt path.

The frame tends to seat the rider in an upright "forward-seeming" position. This is not really a weakness of the bike -- it seems great for touring or light non-mountain bike-style rides. Perhaps, some stability may be sacrificed in this position, but it also allows you to view the road and any obstacles ahead. Riding on this frame is comfortable but different from the sloached seating on road bikes or mountain bikes. The aluminum (vs. cro-moly) frame is functional, but it seems easier to strip the threads in an aluminum frame when screwing on attachments (e.g., when adding a bike rack).

Many new bikes now have v-brakes, but I think such a braking system is better for mountain biking, where you need brakes that can grab hard. The older, cantilever-style brakes would be sufficient on this style of bike. This is not a true weakness of the bike, however.

The Crossways 350 (year 2000 model) is a fairly low-cost hybrid bike that is comfortable to ride and allows the rider to pedal in a more upright position than on a mountain or road bike. I wouldn't recommend it for mountain biking, however, as the the upright body position, the larger wheel diameter, and the treads aren't optimal for negotiating steep mountain slopes. It will handle flat dirt paths OK.

The SRAM grip shifters, along with the SRAM 5.0 rear and Shimano Alvio front derailers, make for very smooth shifting.

The front shocks and seat-post shock are not the best components, but it's better to have them than not. The saddle should be replaced.

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This is my first hybrid bike. I compared it to the Specialized Crossroads, which is also nice but it might be heavier than the Mongoose Crossways 350.