Beginner needs advice

I'd sugest to get the best bike you can get for the full 1000e. The reason is that you can get all the accessories and gear online for much less if you shop around. Also, have a look at Cube and Felt models, they might be a bit better value and I just like the looks of them. There might be some discounts coming soon for this years models, have a look around, there is lot to be had for the 1k.

Ah, one more thing. If you really get hooked then you'll be upgrading a lot sooner than in 5 years

I got a Giant Defy as my first bike.... Got me hooked and I still have it. The Defy 1 is constantly being mentioned in magazine listings of 'Best Bikes under £xxxx' type articles. I only went for the Defy 3, but you get the same frame. As it was my first bike, 105 would have been lost on me. Plus, when you get hooked and upgrade, you really notice a difference.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Defy, however I did buy mine having only really considered a Giant or a Trek. If I was to go again, I would have researched a lot more brands and spent as much as I could afford on the bike and get accessories online. Good luck with the purchase, any more questions on the Defy feel free to ask.

Like all the rest said, I too recommend you spend the full 1000 on the bike, buy your gear online. I only took up cycling a few months back and got the bike through the BTW scheme and like you originally planned spending 700 on the bike and the rest on gear but decided to put my own money towards a different bike after the BTW payment had been made and went for a bike priced at 999 but got it for 900 and then spent around 200 on gear ( mainly from eBay and wiggle). I'm already thinking about my next bike but will wait till next may/June before buying something. It really is addictive once you get started!

I was in the same boat a few months ago.
Looked at a lot of bikes and had my mind set on a Cube.
I went to the Cyclesuperstore in Tallaght and sat on a few different bikes , Cubes , Lapierre, and a Giant Defy 1. Tried a few others in different shops.
In the end I bought the Defy 1 as it seemed to fit me best. (if that makes sense). It cost me €1065 as they give a corporate discount.
(Many shops won't give any discount if buying on the bike to work scheme )

I think you really have to sit on them on a trainer to get a proper fit.

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Most of the bikes in the €1000 price bracket are very similarly spec'd. There was a thread a few months back where someone had put the spec's into a spreadsheet for easy comparison.
I bought a few bits and bobs in Aldi and Lidl when they had cycling gear: pump, toolkit, clothing , helmet. (More than adequate for my needs).

Buy the best you can afford. (within reason) I'd certainly stretch to the full €1000 if you're availing of the bike to work scheme. The difference between €800 and €1000 works out at about €8 a month if you pay tax at the higher rate..

I'm happy with the Defy 1

accessories:

bottle cage
lights
lock
pump

nothing else needed for commuting or semi-causal spins, next would be padded shorts IMO

If they're all similarly spec'd then go and see them in the flesh. When I was buying I had it down to three bikes. I went for a Ridley Compact with full Tiagra group set as I reckoned that's all I needed starting off and would be more than enough to cope with my needs. The other bikes were all Sora spec'd bikes with sora and micro shifters. The tiagra shifters are easier to use IMO and the Compact is lovely looking bike so my choice was made.

You could spend anOther 3 months looking at various bikes on the net but you need to go and see them and test ride them if possible and then pick one and purchase.

How do you find the defy 2. i was looking at one just a few minutes ago for 899e.