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Old 09-26-10 | 09:33 PM
  #20  
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travelmama
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Long Beach,CA

Bikes: Kona Ute, Nishiki 4130, Trek 7000, K2 Mach 1.0, Novara Randonee, Schwinn Loop, K2 Zed 1.0, Schwinn Cream, Torker Boardwalk

Originally Posted by boro
That's what the internet is for. Those incredibly expensive dutch bikes are not only overkill, but their price is a reflection of a trend. If it isn't hilly, you probably won't use more than the 8 gears - even with 3 gears you'll wind up either a) having to walk up a steep hill or b) not going as fast as you might with a broader gear range. Dutch bikes are supposed to be ridden 'slowly' anyway.

I have a coaster brake bike and I'm not a big fan. No cables looks nice and all, but if your chain comes off (which has never happened to me, mind you) you don't have any brakes... it's a preference in the end, I guess. If the bike is geared, since you have cables anyway, I think you should have hand brakes for both wheels.

Is there a reason why you want a steel frame? Aluminum is lighter, and some of those bikes actually have the nice-looking skinny tubes again.

Honestly, if you don't mind a 3 speeds and a coaster brake, I'd take a look at a Kona Africabike. The older (black) versions are made out of steel, but the new (white) ones are aluminum, apparently. Either way, they have a huge integral rack, a wheel lock, a basket, and they're dirt cheap. Kind of have a soviet vibe going on.

A shop that I was close to carried Batavus stuff, and those bikes looked pretty nice, I'm not gonna lie, but everything except the 1-speed coaster brake BUB bikes were out of my price range.
+1 There is also the KHS Green http://www.khsbicycles.com/09_green_07.htm It is a simple bike that will meet your needs. Save the rest of your money and get a good road bike should you decide to enter the world of longer distance riding.
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