Any question answered...

I'd considering renting bikes wherever you are. I had a really good time last year on holidays on a £200 Raleigh. Sometimes it really isn't about the bike.

Andy, désolé. You're a man.

I had a fun time riding in Austria on a succession of two abandones bikes I found in the street. One old coaster brake puch and a cheap hybrid.

In mallorca I borrowed a cheap folding bike of someone and had some fun riding around the city and along the coast, folders tend to be pretty low geared and tackling some steep hills on short rides (10 miles each way) was nothing but fun.