New bike recommendation

Hello. A friend of mine has recently graduated and been given a gift by her father to buy a new bike. She's about 5'6, does a lot of cycling (about an hour each way to/from work for at least the past year) and is thinking of doing a bit of touring later this summer. However, she doesn't actually know very much about bikes and when I asked her what she was thinking of she showed me this link:

• https://cycles.peugeot.fr/urban/legend/lc01/lc01-d7p
  
  

How would you respond, and what would you recommend? The budget is around 500 quid (she's not actually in the UK, so that's a rough conversion from euros) and I guess she might buy a new lock too, but she's got lights, helmet etc so doesn't need to get all the accessories.

Thanks!

I might look at Dolan and Ribble who tend to be good for new budget bikes - you usually get a decent frame and groupset for starters. Also to check the Classified forum section here as secondhand will get you far better quality components. Maybe post up a 'wanted' thread? I'm sure others will have better advice.

Rather overpriced for what it is and not really suitable for touring. Depending upon her route it could do as a commuter, but it's more suited to popping down the shops on, rather than an hour each way.

The dynamo is useful, but everything else is pretty budget and rather tired. Seven gears at the rear mean it has a freewheel rather than cassette and a triple chainset can be overwhelming: every time I have to work on one of these sort of bikes (town/mixte/"lifestyle"), it has only ever been ridden on one ring.

What does she currently ride and where is she? I'm going to take a wild guess at France, in which case she should head to Decathlon: great value for money and sensible spec.

Based on what you've written, I'd want drop handlebars (the variety of hand positions provide relief from fatigue on long rides), a compact chainset (same range as a triple but less complicated and less likely to throw the chain on a clumsy shift) and a steel frame with mounts and clearance for mudguards and at least 28mm tyres.

Finding a new steel frame that's not stupidly heavy for that money could be difficult, more likely she'll be looking at an aluminium frame with carbon forks which would do well.

I'd keep a little over for a new saddle too: it's evens that she won't get on with the OE. All the women I know use saddles with cutouts.

You might also ask here: https://www.lfgss.com/microcosms/542/

Hi, yes, France :) But not hard to guess if any of you have ever read anything I've posted in the last year or two (admittedly, not too much). And thanks for all your advice in the other post - she's a colleague at work so I will show her this thread tomorrow, and also have a more meaningful discussion with her.

Definately take a look at the decathlon range of bikes.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-359113-road-bikes/N-372944-age-category~adult

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/hoprider-500-urban-hybrid-bike-low-frame-id_8405486.html

As @Scilly.Suffolk noted, drop bar or flat bar is going to be a major decision factor.

Try also Culture Velo.
It's still a big bike store chain, but unlike Decathlon/GoSport/InterSport they only sell bikes (plus a a bit of running gear, admittedly), and they also have some second hand bikes on sale sometimes.

https://www.culturevelo.com/TREKKING-100-10484
https://www.culturevelo.com/FX-2-Women-s-Disc
https://www.culturevelo.com/Sub-Cross-40-Lady-11223

Low-spec components aside (and as well as being unsuitable for long rides/commutes or touring), I quite like that blue Peugeot; steel frame, nice non-uni-crown forks, it's rather swish.
(At this price range though, everything's going to be fairly low-spec component-wise: Acera, Tourney, Alivio, maybe something with Sora.)

Where in France are you/she based? Obviously lots more options for bike shops in Paris, and for second hand bikes on leboncoin, but likewise more cost too.

Edit:
Just seen, yes, Paris.

I quite like that blue Peugeot

I don't dislike it as such, just not for the stated purpose.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions :) Yes, in Paris... I will be speaking with my friend today and encourage her to look at this thread. I think part of the issue is she knows so little about bikes at the moment that all is based on looks, but of course there are more important things to consider than just that. However, she is very willing to learn - we just haven't had time to talk yet (she only mentioned it as we were leaving yesterday).