Buying a bike - part one

We are thinking of buying a new bike. 
The plan is to get an extra bike, which will allow each of the other three to be withdrawn for extended maintenance,

Thinking about gears and gearing

I've been thinking about gears this week. I like the simplicity and function of my Sturmey-Archer 3-speed rear hub, but I wonder if I can improve it.

I am running a fairly soft set-up at the moment as regards gearing:

Dark nights

I use the dynamo lighting that came with my little folding bike - it is cheap and cheerful :-)
Using the dynamo seems

"Dream machines" and "daily drivers"

Question: What bike is the "best"?

Answer: Depends what you want to do with it!

It is easy to flick through web pages of exotic, expensive cycles, and form the impression that the more one pays