What to buy...

Hey there,

I'm looking for some tips from people that know a little more about bicycles than me...

I currently own a charge plug racer and a very nice peugeot triathlon bike, which has all it's original parts and is all shiny and lovely.

I'm selling the charge, as i live in bristol and after a few years of knocking about, i would like to get something geared for my daily commute because as some of you may know, it's well hilly here. I have a friend that wants it and it's going at the weekend.

So, now I would like something to replace it. I want to keep my peugeot as a bit of a long cycle/weekend ride type thing. It may be a faux pas here but it's not really something i'd consider a beater or a bike i'd like to lock outside of work every day. it's a bit too shiny.

Problem is, I'm quite vain, so I would like something geared, nice looking yet sturdy and easy to ride and fix. I like french 80s road bikes, so looking at merciers and more peugeots at the moment, but something i wouldnt mind knocking about a bit. locking outside a pub and such.

Anyone got any tips of what I should go for?

Vitus would do you well.

A lot of 80s French stuff has BBs and seat posts in weird Gallic sizes that can be horrendous to track down. So not necessarily too easy to maintain. Check Sheldon Brown for more info, I seem to recall.

Go Italian- Basso and Legnano do cross-range stuff, or just go to town and look at Bottechia, Chesini, etc and buy a REALLY BIG LOCK

thanks a lot guys!