vickster
Squire
I guess define 'better'. We are all different and all want and need different things from a bike. That's why it's important to buy the one(s 
) that are right for you and speak to you. You need to test ride ideally if you possibly can (not that I did in reality with any of my current 'herd', other than the Genesis in stock guise to confirm which frame size I would order for the build)
Over £500 odd there won't be a 'bad' bike in the general sense, but there could well be the wrong bike for you (for me, this is any roadbike with Shimano hoods and no secondary brakes!) or a bike with lower spec components. All bikes are built to a price and there is always a compromise somewhere (but that may not be the same compromise for an individual over another)
Go with a bike that makes you smile when you look at it, and that you enjoy riding when using it for the purpose for which you purchased
Don't buy solely on the basis of cost as especially discount from its alleged RRP (sic Halfords pricing)
If a newbie, buy from a good local LBS if you can as they should offer help if there are problems etc and you won't need to spend your life sending emails, waiting for a phone to be answered or, in extremis, for a courier to show up if it needs to be returned! LBS's might also be willing to haggle on price if cheaper elsewhere, but personally I think it's unreasonable to expect a price match against an online retailer like Wiggle unless they specifically say they will (like Evans), as the service levels you are paying for aren't equivalent
That's my Tuesday morning ramble over
) that are right for you and speak to you. You need to test ride ideally if you possibly can (not that I did in reality with any of my current 'herd', other than the Genesis in stock guise to confirm which frame size I would order for the build)Over £500 odd there won't be a 'bad' bike in the general sense, but there could well be the wrong bike for you (for me, this is any roadbike with Shimano hoods and no secondary brakes!) or a bike with lower spec components. All bikes are built to a price and there is always a compromise somewhere (but that may not be the same compromise for an individual over another)
Go with a bike that makes you smile when you look at it, and that you enjoy riding when using it for the purpose for which you purchased
Don't buy solely on the basis of cost as especially discount from its alleged RRP (sic Halfords pricing)
If a newbie, buy from a good local LBS if you can as they should offer help if there are problems etc and you won't need to spend your life sending emails, waiting for a phone to be answered or, in extremis, for a courier to show up if it needs to be returned! LBS's might also be willing to haggle on price if cheaper elsewhere, but personally I think it's unreasonable to expect a price match against an online retailer like Wiggle unless they specifically say they will (like Evans), as the service levels you are paying for aren't equivalent
That's my Tuesday morning ramble over
