What's a good bike for riding around the city?
Well both the bikes you were asking about look very nice and have good components on them. So if you have your heart set on one of those then go for the color you like best. Marin is anther company that makes some fine brag worthy bikes, and of course Cannondale as well. If you want something that easier on the wallet then I'd say check the local shop for a good Specialized. Personally I would expect the lowest end of my buying bracket to bet about $600. Mind you the last time i went bike shopping was in 1994 and $1100 later I rode out on a limited edition Dos Equis Team Barracuda. Sadly that company is long gone but I'm still riding the bike today, albiet she's not as pretty as she used to be.
Aluminum frames are pretty standard these days so most of what you find will be that. Titanium is sweet but only get that if you really want to brag or are considering getting on a competitive circut. Forks are also pretty standard now, most are alloy and at the shop where I buy my parts I see a lot of bikes with carbon fiber forks some not even over $1000. As far as components are concerned you will mostly see Shimano parts. Even their budget models the Deore are perfectly good and you will get good reliable use out them. The higher end components are not really about function but about shaving those precious few ounces off the total weight, and looking good. When it comes to rims Mavic is about the best you can get before having rims fully custom built for you. I have rolled Mavics for ten years and would still be on them today if I had ponied up some extra cash to go to disk brakes. The brake rub finally wore through them. After that I'd say have 18 gears so you have the lower ratios for dealing with the big hills and for bikes that feel comfortable and make you say, "Mmm pretty," when you first see them. the latter was what made me buy mine.
If what you see in the shops are still out of your price range then look at a second hand bike. There are some real gems out there that you can pick up on the cheap. I once got a nice Cannondale for $40 just needed a few minor repairs. finally one final word. KRYPTONITE. A U-lock and cable, fix the U-lock through the back wheel and frame and the cable through the front wheel and seat rails, linking back to the U-lock. Remember a jackass will steal any part of a bike they can walk away with, just because they can.
So happy shopping! and now once again my signature line...
