what bike to buy

Question
I need to buy a step-through type bike with a forgiving, well cushioned seat. I'm 6 ft tall and am thinking about a Raleigh Venture, but all the advice I read about suggests Trek, Specialized or Giant, never Raleigh. Would that be a good choice for me? (I'd like to stay under $300). You should know that I will use the bike for recreation on flat smooth roads mostly about 20 miles per ride.
Hope you can help me make my decision. One more thing, I'm a male, so is there any reason not to buy a women's bike, since the specs alway point out WSD; assuming the size is good for me.


Answer
Hello Dixie,

Welcome to the bikeaddiction! Once you are come into this world you always will go better, faster, longer....
About the seat, the most saddles into this pricecategory will have simple seats/saddles. The differences is that one person can sit on these, some w/don't! Because often these are made of plastic and nylon. The most famous seats are coming from Avocet, Vetta, Selle San Marco or even the old school Brooks (from England).
About the bike, I don't know how handy you are with maintenance (do it yourselves of bring it to your lbs (local bike store)? Because on the Raleigh Venture aren't mounted the better parts from Shimano or Sram. For recreational use you better start with a Shimao Deore group or Sram 5.0). With the mounted parts on this Venture you will need more maintenance!!! Also depending about the weatherconditions (rain and mud).
The most times why we are talking about a Trek or the other suggested brands is because the had a strong name and also buildquality is very good. Not that I say Raleigh is bad. But Raleigh is different than those names (some people like it on a different name).
If your a male, why choose a Womans Specific Design??
When your putting a male onto these WDS Models, you must be tiny/small or have backproblems because those models toptube is shorter than a regular bike.
I can't tell you how to fit on a bike, because I can't see you! But what you can consider is to make a round besides different bikestores, ask there opinion and let them advice you and RIDE some models to feel the differences between them.
When you having more questions, I'll be here.

Best regards,

Michael