Plz recommend low-end SS utility bike
A college student friend of mine wants a new bike, which would be his first since the Wal-Mart special he had when he was a kid. Something along the lines of a commuter bike, or a hybrid. His thumbs don't work up to spec so I think he'd be better served by a single speed (not a fixie) or something with twist shifters.
Flat bars is good, street tires are good, and a suspension fork is good (but not a deal-breaker).
I called the LBSes and checked the usual web sites but there's not a lot of low-end bikes that check all the boxes, and it's not a market segment I keep up with, so I thought I'd ask here.
Any suggestions, online or chain store? His budget is $300.