Editor's Note: This column is adapted from ALM's Mid-Market Report. For more business of law coverage geared toward midsize firms, sign up for a free trial subscription to ALM's weekly newsletter, The Mid-Market Report.

Imagine for a moment that a friend invites you on a rigorous biking trip. Your friend assures you that the trip will start out nice and easy, that you'll be riding on flat, smooth pavement. However, as the trip progresses, you are also expected to pass through mountains, forest, and desert. You will encounter a wide variety of terrains, ranging from gravel and rock to sand and soil.

There's just one problem—you need to buy a bike. You are subsequently given the choice between purchasing either a road bike or a mountain bike. Which do you choose?