Unless you have INTIMATE knowledge and experience of a particular manufacturer and model, don't buy anything a shop won't let you test ride first. Wait, scratch that. NEVER buy a bike the shop wont let you test ride first. Burley Samba, in addition to the bikes you mentioned, worth checking out. Another tip, though this is sort of cheating: Test ride several models to get a feel for what you like, fit, need, etc. THEN check Ebay for possible available second-hand bikes that match your needs. You might even be able to get a significantly better bike for your budget this way. I saved about 1500 smacks on my Santana Arriva by doing just this. Good luck!