I'm about to buy a hybrid to complement my road bike. I want to pay around CHF800 max as it'll get thrown about a bit. It'll be for general commuting, getting to work, locking it up in town as I go shopping (which I would never do with my road bike!), that sort of thing.

So far I've considered the Giant Escape 2, the Specialized Sirrus and the Treks, such as the 7.1 FX.

I've not had a hybrid before. Anyone got any advice as to a good buy for this money...?

I have a Trek 8.3 DS and I love it so far. if I had the cash, I would have gotten the 8.4 for the hydraulic brakes. I ride mostly for commuting and shopping. Not much trail riding experience on it yet.

i would get something that would give you some relief from road bike riding, like upright position easy on the wrists and the back, some shock absorbing etc.

I actually have a Giant Escape 2. It is quite good and have been using it for perhaps more than 1000 Kms (mainly short trips back and forth to the office, around 20Kms). It is quite sturdy and a bit heavy, but rides very well. I actually changed the saddle, pedals (for clipless) and the hand grips and am very happy with it. I bought mine in France (Culture Velo Thonon) for about 500 Euros if I recall correctly. Recommended.

Merida has some very good hybrid bikes -- with reasonable components and much cheaper than the treks, etc. CHF 800 (if you buy in CH) should get you a decent Merida with "Alivio" type of components -- not the best ones but completely enough for daily commutes and shopping

I was about to say I heard hybrid bikes were not so good, like average for the road and not really "path/dirt path" compatible (also from bike users).

But it looks for your needs that you simply need to buy a cheap second hand bike... Otherwise even with a decent locker its likely to get stolen...

Well, if you plan to leave it long time in the center, etc...

How about you get yourself a cheap city bike, second hand?

OK, update! I couldn't stand the wait and amount of 'net research I was doing, so I went into a few bike shops this afternoon.

Thanks for the heads-up about Merida. I tried the S'Presso 100, the Speeder S2 and the Crossway 20. Nice bikes, all of them. The frame finish is good and the quality of parts is good, too. The Crossway is a long way towards a mountain bike and I realised I wanted something a bit speedier.

Then Giant and the Escape 2 City. Well, they're the biggest bike manufacturers for a reason and the bike was well put together at a good price (I haggled with everyone but they were the most flexible).

Then Trek and the 7.2 FX. I have to admit to owning a Trek already, but this one felt fantastic. Snappy steering, lightweight, slick gear change. Really good.

Finally the Specialized Sirrus - in my eyes, the best looking and best finished bike of the lot. Nice to ride, lightweight so quick off the mark and really easy to flick through narrow lanes and around obstructions.

So... very little to choose between them all so I had to pick the one that fitted me best. I'd have been happy with at least 3 of these bikes as they all share the same (or very similar) gear sets, brakes, alloy parts and also geometry: The Sirrus, the Trek and the Speeder. It came down to personal choice and I went for the Trek 7.2 with money off and free mudguards!!

Thanks again for all the help.

Congrats! all of them were good choices an surely you'll love your rides in Switzerland (for me the season goes from April to October though as I am a tropical person!)