Upright road Hybrid with MTB gears. Flat or Riser bars for traffic, rear eyelets for rack and fenders, adjustable stem for comfort. 700c rims for speed, 26" rims for stronger wheels and fatter tyres (but more weight and rolling resistance, ) disk brakes for cool & mud, V-brakes for bang-for-buck and lightness. Alloy frame & forks for slight weight saving but harsher ride, suspension fork and steel frame for comfort and joy.

Plenty of top-tube clearance, and a ladies specific saddle. Ladies bikes have different geometry, and light is more fun than heavy. If you ride in skirts, a step-through design may be preferred.

Month-long trips can be undertaken on almost anything. Generally, the further you travel with luggage, the more comfort you'll enjoy. Lower price can mean more weight.

2008/2009 bikes on closeout can give a real saving of up to 30% or more for much the same bike as a 2010 model.