I thought about discs, but that starts getting a bit more pricey. Plus, I think she wants a step-through frame, so then there aren't any (to my knowledge) bikes that would do that off-the-shelf, and thus, zero chance of finding something used. If it were me, I would be on that in a heart beat. However, my mother-in-law probably won't be moving that fast, and this is Madison Wisconsin, so hills are pretty small and brake fade is not really a concern.