Hybrid bike recommendations

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

I'm in desperate need of a new bike but very limited budget so searching ebay/gumtree in the hope of bagging a bargain .

I've been looking for a Specialized vita (2010/11 models were going for £200/250 which is about my limit) but none have come up locally in my size so need to expand the search to other makes/models. Requirements are mainly road cycling (doing ride london) but ability to tackle the odd track or less than smooth cycle path & Not wild about drop handlebars.

Any suggestions?

Oooh will watch this.
I'm doing a 400 mile In 4 days in May and need a new bike. I currently only do 30 max on my town bike.
I've been recommended one with drop handles as apparently it's easier when you've got a speed up. But as im the only girl doing his with 15 men I only have male advice. Would like a female cyclists advice!!

My hybrid is a Specialized ariel disc which I have put narrower, smoother tyres on. I really like it, but it is heavy if you are doing a lot of road cycling.

My new road bike (am vvv excited about this) is a Cannondale Synapse alloy. As I'm tall, a mens bike doesn't worry me, and unless you are short, it doesn't make a lot of difference, and theres a lot more choice in mens bikes.

Oh so maybe a road bike might be worth considering afterall as I really want something lightweight. I guess I'm just a bit nervous making the leap from knackered old mountain bike to a true road bike but ultimately it is for road riding/racing & I can keep my old mountain bike for going on family trails etc). Totally flummoxed now .

I have a road bike, and got a Specialized Ariel hybrid for Christmas as I wanted to be able to cycle the river paths etc (I hate the traffic on the roads).

I really like the Specialized a lot, and it feels fine on the roads as well as tracks, but tbh it doesn't feel as fast and efficient as a decent road bike. My road bike is a carbon-framed 2012 Jamis Xenith Endura Sport like this www.evanscycles.com/products/jamis/xenith-endura-sport-2012-womens-road-bike-ec031747 It was £300 on Ebay in good condition (original RRP was around £1k I think). One of the reasons that I got a decent bike for the price is that Jamis are a less-well-known brand in the UK - whereas it seems everyone wants a Specialized/Giant etc. Also I did look for quite a while.

I'd look into less well known brands that still have reasonable quality components on them. And I really would try and see if you can get over the drop handlebar thing if you're going to do distances on the roads.

Its not that bad, honestly. Its like all the hoo haa about riding with cleats - yes it requires a bit of thought coming up to junctions, but not that much and the benefits are massively worth it.

Some road bikes are more twitchy than others, but I think at the low end/ non carbon you don't get that so much. Mine is described as 'sportive focussed' if that helps looking at reviews.

I've found a nice looking specialized allez in my size asking £250 which I'm going to look at on Sunday and just waiting to hear back about looking at a cannondale too