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Someone who's aiming at 10 mile fitness jaunts really wouldn't need a $1,000+ trail machine.
She'd do well with a comfy hybrid with an upright riding position. The only thing that's usually bad with them is the tires - I usually tell people who get them to get tires for street, then a set for off-road, if they decide to get into it. (Everyone who rides a bike should know how to change the tires, IMO) The stock tires will usually do well for rails-trails and mostly flat trails.
Disk brakes are nice, but I hate the symmetry on the hub. 'Rim clinchers' do me fine.
Full suspension for most recreational riders is overkill. It's cush, but not really needed.
Tires are the best ways for an individual to tweak their ride. Cyclocross does fine with thin tires, so bigger may just be a compensation...
Clip-in pedals are also not needed for most recreational riders. They are a great gimick, and really nice for stokers on tandems, but that's about it. I only use them because I can't find a decent cleat for my shoes, anymore. I have a set of SunTour greaseguards in the wings, waiting.
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