Buying advice, women's commuter bike around £500

Emmabikestowork

Hi, I bike to work (about 3 miles each way on city roads) and I'm looking to buy a bike through the cycle to work scheme. I'm looking at bikes around £500 and I'm looking for a hybrid that is light and fast (as a priority) and comfortable to ride (as a bonus). I went to a local bike shop and tried the Giant Escape 1:
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Escape-1- ... _66449.htm
It was good to ride - the only thing that makes me hesitate is the high bar as I'm used to a step-through frame and would have to think twice about wearing a skirt. But I guess that's the price you pay for a decent, fast bike?!
I've also been looking online and the Specialized Vita Elite looks like a good deal:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec042543
The disadvantage is that I haven't tried it (no Evans Cycles near me) but as it was originally £650 I wonder if it's a better bike than the Giant Escape 1?
I'd appreciate any advice on choosing between the two, or recommendations for other bikes around the same price.
Thanks in advance!

Emmabikestowork

Hi again, there is also the Ridgeback Element Open Frame:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/rid ... e-ec043411
Any advice much appreciated!

notnot

Glad you're starting cycling to work - over 3 miles, you'll likely find it's quicker than public transport, and possibly also quicker than driving. Cheaper and more fun, too

For that distance, unless you're riding up a mountain, any decent bike will be fine (you could get a much cheaper bike that would also do the job). A bigger factor to the speed is likely to be how fit you get! Are you planning on doing longer rides at weekends etc. - if so, I'd tailor what you buy to that. Also, get something you like/find comfortable - so you're more likely to use it.

You can get decent bikes with step-through frames - something like this, for example (just a fairly random example - I don't know if it's good value for money but it would definitely be ridable!) http://www.rutlandcycling.com/150531/pr ... wwodV1wA8A There is less choice and you may find it harder to get a good deal, but if you'll use it more if it has this type of frame then I'd hunt one out - you'll get something which is fine (better than what I use for spins around town!) for well within your budget.

Emmabikestowork

Hi both, thanks for your suggestions.

Oxoman, good tip about Ridgebacks being heavy - I checked and the Momentum is 29kg, much heavier than the others I've been looking at!

Notnot, I've been cycling to work for 4 months and it's definitely the quickest option. I'm reasonably fit and I've got to the point where I want a better bike now (current riding a Raleigh Detour I bought for £200 about 3 years ago). Actually I did try the Giant Escape 2 at the same time as trying the Escape 1, it has the advantage of a step-through frame (plus it's £100 cheaper) BUT I really dislike the white colour! Apparently they do the Escape 2 in blue as well but it's not a step-through frame.

What about the Scott Sportster X40 or the GT Transeo 4?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... e-ec042460
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/ ... e-ec054174

notnot

Emmabikestowork wrote:

Notnot, I've been cycling to work for 4 months and it's definitely the quickest option. I'm reasonably fit and I've got to the point where I want a better bike now (current riding a Raleigh Detour I bought for £200 about 3 years ago).

Sorry, I misread your post :oops: Do you ride much aside from the commute to work, as that may influence the type of thing to get? I wouldn't bother with suspension forks if you're riding on the roads - makes the bike a bit heavier, a bit less efficient and something else to go wrong - unless a bad road surface is getting to you.

As it happens, I ride a Ridgeback hybrid around town myself. They certainly do bikes that are much lighter than 29kg - mine is more like 11. Don't think I'd seek one out if I had £500 to spend though.

Emmabikestowork

notnot wrote:

Sorry, I misread your post :oops: Do you ride much aside from the commute to work, as that may influence the type of thing to get? I wouldn't bother with suspension forks if you're riding on the roads - makes the bike a bit heavier, a bit less efficient and something else to go wrong - unless a bad road surface is getting to you.

No worries! The bike is mainly for commuting although hopefully I'll want to use it more at weekends if it's more fun to ride. Plus my husband is getting a new bike (a hybrid too) and as the weather gets better I'm sure we'll want to go for leisure rides. I think it will mostly be along roads and cycle paths so hybrids should be fine, we won't be going onto MTB territory.

I mainly like the look of the Scott and GT because they have step through frames and seem like good specs (plus they look cool, which does bother me more than I'd like it to!) But point taken about the suspension, all things considered I can live without it!

Emmabikestowork

Hi again, I think I will probably get the Specialized Vita Sport step through (2013 model):
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec042541
Not quite as high spec as the Elite but it has the advantage of being a step-through, and I think the specs are still good (?) I found a bike shop which stocks Specialized and isn't too far away, so I'll see if I can go try one or two Vita bikes there. Fingers crossed!