Cycling is on the increase, and even more so in towns and cities as more people choose to make the journey to work by bike.

The ideal commuter bike has to cope with potted urban roads and rough cycle ways (as we all know, these aren’t always in the best condition). You’ll also want the bike to be nimble, well-balanced, light and with a good ratio of gears, especially if your chosen abode is in a hilly location.

Ticking all these boxes, and so many more, is the Specialized Women’s Vita 2011 hybrid bike. The sister of the Vita Sport, the Vita is specifically designed for spending most of your cycling in town. Of course, the Vita will happily take you further afield, and on country roads, because it is created to cope with the toughest of road conditions.

So, what of the technical detailing of the Specialized Vita? As you would expect, Specialized have given a great deal of thought to female commuter riders. The female-specific geometry means that the bike is set up for ultimate comfort and it’s made from lighter weight premium aluminium.

The 7-speed gearing has a rapid-fire trigger shifter, which is easy to use.

The bike comes with a flatter style of handlebar, offering confident handling and superb stability, a well as straight blade steel forks for a high level of durability, even when faced with potholes and rough roads.

We love the neat and tidy internal cable routing and the clever hourglass style seat stays that mean you’ll have a good balance of performance and comfort.

The saddle is also an important consideration, and the Body Geometry Women’s Riva Road is sure to offer lots of comfort – and joy – even on longer road trips.

Add in a host of Shimano components (Shimano is renowned for higher quality bike components) and you have a bike that’s in a great price bracket but still offers oodles of styling and quality gadgetry.