Suggestions for a commuting bike

Your going to struggle buying a complete bike in very good standard for £325. I'd keep an eye on Ebay, here etc. But at that price it'll likely need at least some TLC, and you've stated that you're no bike expert. Still you could look at it as a learning experiance. Might be an idea to get some help though. Clearance for 32mm tyres might be tricky too.

yeah, i got that impression. but i think i'll manage with some patience.
ebay is cool, but the main problem is that i'm not uk based, so 85% of the deals die in the beginning. i have seen some interesting things around here, so i'll just keep looking.
why is 32mm clearence tricky? i thought that most old frames could handle that.
another thing that i have some doubts is the type of brakes to install.. caliper or cantilever? what's the main difference? i read that when the tyre width is to large, should go for cantilever, but 32mm max is not that wide i think.

that mercier looks like a real bargain, shame he won't post it. (and not rly my color, to be honest)