so what I need is a max spend of around £500 to get a bike that i can use for the following :

riding to work (****cough****) -)
toottling around with the kids
family hols, centerparcs etc

other criteria – not to be used for serious mtb or road duties – I have a cx bike, a hardtail and a FS for that !

ideally deore level kit, incl disc brakes

rigid fork

I don't want to go over the £500 mark as i then start getting into the territory of my other bikes and the whole point here is to get something that I won't worry too much about chaining up when out with the family, on roof of car etc.

So far the Ridgeback Storm seems to be the best I can find :

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/index.php?bikeID=32&seriesID=42&show_bike=TRUE

any other ideas ?

Thanks

spesh
Spesh crosstrail would be around that C2Work (fork swap needed)

Giant Escape M2 or M1.

thanks – looked at those 2 but the kit isn't as good as on the Ridgeback..

any other ideas ?

-)

Boardmans?