Specialized Sirrus Elite '08 or Globe City '07
 

Right I commute using an old mountain bike at present.
The gears are shot and the breaks have had it so either its time to fix it up or get a new bike.
I think I would like a bike with narrower wheels so the above two bikes have come to light.
I can get the elite fo 450 pounds or the city for 400 pounds.

I do mainly road with a few cycle paths with small lip curbs + 1 towpath section that is a little on the rough side but nothing too serious and one very long but not too steep hill + 1 short but v.steep hill.

I want to put a rack on the bike and get an Alture urban pannier for my laptop on the bike.

Which of these bikes do you recommend? Which would you go for?

Also at the bike shop I never got a def. answer on frame size. They basically said can I stand over the cross bar without anything touching. If so as long as I can get the ball of my foot to touch the ground then I will be fine (taller that better?). My trouser size is 32 inch inside leg.

Cheers if anyone can help with this as there is only 1 city bike left at this price.

A new bike won't get you to work any faster or safer, so there's no real reason to retire your old bike. I'd fix up the current bike because brakes and gears cost next to nothing to replace.

Should you feel the urge to spend some more money, direct the money towards a good light or a rack/pannier set should you not have one. You could also get some narrower tires by using your current set of rims

I have thought about fixing the bike up however to be honest I don't think it will be cost effective.
The rear wheel has a slight buckle thanks to a friend who borrowed the bike so it needs fixing. The rims are worn. The gears are only Shimano Altus and are pretty shot. The breaks + pads need replacing. The tyres need replacing.
When you add all that up its more than I paid for the bike (about 8 years I think ago).

So I thought it was time to start from scratch (yep throwaway society).

The city bike appeals in regards to the chain guard & mud guards etc. Not too bothered by the lights. Worried about possible gear ratios and speed.

The sirrus would need a rack, mud guards and a chain guard before it would be useful to me.

The Sirrus is more expensive and doesn't have some of the stuff you want -- sounds like an easy choice.

I'm sure it doesn't seem that easy. I know, I struggled with what bike to get myself for months.

BUT - I don't know much about either of these bikes.

with a 32" inseam a 51 or a 52 cm frame is your best bet.

full disclosure: I work for a company that sells Specialized Bikes

personally, better bang for your buck on an 08 Sirrus Elite. The Globe City bikes are a good value for their cost, but some of the appointments aren't quite spot-on. the 08 City bikes fixed some of those problems but I prefer the higher-level core components (frame, drive train, brakes) on the Sirrus over the broad schmear of components on the 07 Globe City bikes.

g'luck.

I've put about 1000 miles on my new Sirrus since I put it into service on October. I am very pleased with the bike; I added PlanetBike fenders, Topeak rack/pannier, Dinotte 600/140 light setup and I have quite a commuter machine.