Current Projects chat and miscellany

About to start a new project for the GFs xmas present. I am looking for the best steel frame money can buy (in the price range £200 - £300), with geometry of 51 cm seat tube (c-t), and 53 cm top tube.

At the moment, the best option seems to be the Guerciotti record from Planet X, but I have also seen a Zanella frame in BLB that I could get for £250.

What would anyone here recommend?

+1 for going second hand. I really wouldn't bother buying anything new for that price.

Its not the most femine bike, but its 853:
http://www.lfgss.com/thread74814.html

EDIT- In fact thinkig about it a little more, I would either get a second hand hybrid that is fairly modern and in good nick, then revamp (tyres,drive train etc), or get a nice classic ladies frame and restore /update there are are loads of nice ones on ebay at the moment.

IME having something easy to ride is the most important thing, so decent tyres, brakes, shifting, doesn't wiegh a ton, etc.

Also if it's her first bike, I'm not sure it's worth dropping a grand. Yes, you want something that's not so shit it'll turn her off, but like I said, decent wheels, gears and brakes.

EDIT EDIT: in fact there are tons of lovely send hand ladies bikes on eBay. There's even a nos motobecane for £150. Even if the paint jobs a bit tatty, just polish it up. Later when she s got a better idea of what she wants spend the money.