Men's bikes in decent condition are much rarer than ladies' bikes. My theory is that the men's bikes got ridden and destroyed more, leaving the ladies' around, often in excellent condition. But given enough time and patience, you'll find a bike that suits you, and they're rarely expensive.
I'm getting to appreciate the "all steel" aspect of these bikes. It makes them heavy, but there's no question in my mind that it makes them more durable and reliable. These brakes are every bit as good as modern brakes when I put Kool Stop shoes on them. They are excellent. Eventually, I'll put aluminum rims on, but the steels are OK for now. And I guess I'll treat myself to Panaracer Col de la Vie tires next time, though I have no complaints about the Schwalbes I recently installed. Perhaps the worst thing about them is that they're likely to last so long that I won't get to upgrade for a long time.
