Hello everyone...

[Pauluk]

If you've never ridden a really good steel frame I'd strongly recommend trying one out.

Can you still buy them? I know when I went from a thin steel MTB to my first alloy MTB I was astounded by how much lighter and easier the alloy bike was to lift and ride. I don't think I want to go back to that, especially as I have to lift them onto the roof of my car for my weekend rides.

Although it is true that they all rust so badly that they have to be thrown away after about 5 years

Thrown away. No. Just recycled like everything else in the universe
Thought: May be my old raleigh from years ago is now my fridge door or part of my car, who knows

 

[guitarpete247]

My MTB is steel. It's an '87 or '88 Saracen Tufftrax. It's still going strong. It maybe a little heavy but I can still pull 2 little girls and a trailer up hill with it. A couple of weeks ago GF's son and his 2 daughters and I went out for this ride. Me towing the trailer. If you look back at some of my rides from March you'll see a lot of rides round Loughborough that I did on the MTB. Steel ain't so bad just takes more effort and gets you fitter (to drop ).

 

[sidevalve]

Sure, steel frames can be horrible, but a well designed and constructed one can be a joy to ride and well worth the small extra weight penalty.

If you've never ridden a really good steel frame I'd strongly recommend trying one out.

Although it is true that they all rust so badly that they have to be thrown away after about 5 years

Absolutely spot on about steel being good to ride but I'm not sure what you've ridden if you find a good steel frame much heavier than an ally one and as for rusting away in 5 years well, where do you store your bikes, in the sea ? Even an old steel bike like mine weighs in at 10kg which isn't bad even now.
As to the OP, try to get a few test rides at the local bike shops to check out the best types for you and the difference tyres / weight / gears can make and what suits you [what suits now may not be quite what you liked in your younger days]. Changing the tyres can make huge change as said above but if you only intend to ride on the road then maybe a road bike is the best way to go.
If you have the skills [and a little time] a nice refurb job on an older [but good make] road bike might suit you and still not cost much, and I do mean not much, my Dawes plus refurb came in at under £100 which included a Brooks saddle that I didn't need but it was too much of a bargain to miss at £35 new !

 

[simon.r]

I may have had my tongue slightly in my cheek about the 5 year life of a steel frame

There are loads of people still making quality steel frames:

And plenty more as well.

 

[CoreDefence]

Hello everyone. I'm really grateful for all the excellent advice and guidance received. It's people like you that prevent people like me screwing up and getting discouraged. I've decided to go the budget route and change the tyres, see how I go. I must admit, if I get on OK the perfect bike for me will be a hybrid and before I came here I didn't know there was such a thing. Thanks once again,
Core