I want a new push bike, any suggestions or helpful advice

Similar to buying Hifi really, go along to a local independent bike shop and ask for advice. My local bike shop in Stafford is run by enthusiasts who cycle themselves and can talk about it until the cows come home

 

Trek, Giant, Specialised are all good brands - make sure you get the right size, there are a lot more size options than on MTBs and spend as much as you can afford because the better the bike the more you will use it.

Youre looking at aluminium frames with carbon forks / seatpost in your price range with hopefully at least mid range components (Tiagra / 105), Local bike shops are obviously the best place to start but sadly you'll get the best price online, although my LBS will match online prices, but you have to ask. Wiggle is a good website to have a look at.

Finally, depending on how serious you are, clipless shoes and pedals will transform your ride!

Have fun and stay safe, Bill

This time of year is unfortunately the worst to buy, is waiting until off season a possibility?

Trek Giant and Spech are all good recommendations. Your money may go a little farther if you look at Focus and Cube, good frames but just don't carry the premium that some of the bigger guys do.

 

Also, for a commuter, I would recommend looking at a cyclo cross bike as the the brake bosses allow cantilever brakes or mini v's which are much more powerful than road callipers.  You can even get them with disks these days.

 

Is the bike likely to be left in the rain?  A left of the field consideration my be a hub geared bike.  They have come along a long way since  granny bikes, I used to run an Alfine 8 setup and in some ways I preferred it to the XTR on my mountain bike as you can change gears under power with a hub.  Fantastic for leaving in a the rain, the only maintainance it ever needed was adjusting the cable barrel when the cable stretched and a bit of quality lube.  Stretching your budget a little, but If I was buying a commuter, I would look at a Cotic Roadrat.  Its fast, indestructible (commuters get treated like rubbish) and stops on a penny.  Handling is much more stable than a true road bike as the geometry is inspired by Cotics mtbs.

 

http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/Cotic-Roadrat-Alfine-V-S-Black-20110802030...

The cyclo cross bikes look interesting and perfectly suited to commuting. I especially like the idea of the hub gear for the low maintenance aspect, although after a quick google there doesn't seem to be to many fitted with these as standard. Thanks for the advice I'll do a little more online research and then go and try a few, I could wait till off season I would just keep using the MTB for now.

Have a look at the Genesis Day 01 Alfine, its a beauty.  If you can be patient I recon you could get one for £800 when the bad weather hits  If you find a pot of cash lying around, the Day 01 Alfine 11 is one of my dream bikes, its got 11 speeds instead of 8, and its Reynolds 851 steel instead of 520 chromo.  Lot o cash for a commuter though...

I'm also looking a bike. It will be for day long rides and maybe even 2 or 3 days when I get going. Mostly road but some forest parks with decent paths.  The local bike shop do Marin and I was shown various hybrid type bikes. Any opinion on these and anything els I should have a look at?

 

What accessories should I look at getting first?

I just picked up a Giant on Friday. Front forks can be locked out for path/pavement riding, hydraulic discs should I go flying down hill, shimano gears... I'm very pleased with it. I've put on some hybrid tyres too.

I'd thoroughly recommend Planet-X

I got an Uncle John with flat handlebars from them a couple of years ago. Terrific road bike, although I changed the slick tyres to knobblies for allround use. (It's a cyclo cross frame btw)

 

Here it is (with a baby seat fitting in case you wondered).

Is your back OK ?

Just an update at where I am with the new bike. After looking around and trying a few out It's going to have to be a Genesis Day one with Alfine 8 hub, it's a fantastic bike. Just waiting for summer :rofl:  to finish and pick one up in winter.

Yes. I fell into a cauldron of magic potion as a baby.

 

I just got myself a Pinnacle Cobalt One from Evans bike shop, and am really enjoying it.  You can test ride them there too.

If you can persuade your employer to participate in the cycle to works scheme, you can get tax relief on your bike according to your upper income tax band.

 

As per the bike, do you want t simply commute, or do you envisage going for longer rides for fun? If the latter, then you might want something lighter, more sporty. The best thing to do is to find a decent shop with a good range of bikes - carbon racing bling to basic MTB / roadster. Just one thing though, if you wear lycra you must shave your legs. It's the *rules* I'm afraid

The rules.  #5 is the best.

 

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

 

and with #20  is a nice feedback loop to get the combination to the padlock on the suitcase of courage.

As Paul Hobbs mentioned the alfine gearing system is a good place to start. I started cycling 3 years ago and bought a Ridgeback model with the alfine gearing with disc brakes and have found it very easy to maintain. Trouble is, like hi-fi you soon get the upgrade bug so it may be worth looking at bikes that can be upgraded easier.