Opinions please on Marin

[downfader]

Actually I don't want to spend more than about £450, so with CTW that gives me a bike valued at about £750. My commute would be either road/A13 cycle lane or road/400 mt bridal path/road total about 15 miles now and 21 come the summer when we move to a new building. All city cycling. I am not sure I want to go to a full road bike with skinny tyres straight away so a Cross seems a good alternative. I presume I can change to narrower tyres as I gain confidence. I also quite fancy the idea of drops instead of straights which is why I don't really want a hybrid.

If the cycle to work brings the budget up and you want drops then have a look at the Kona Jake (I have one and they've gone down in price slightly)

I do really like Marin though. They make some nice hybrid bikes but I know nothing of the more roady types. The Fairfax and Sausilito both come with tiagra gears but normal v brakes. If you could cope with that the wheels could be upgraded at little extra (I put aksium on mine, and I spose you could put drops on there too)