A lot of those low cost bikes aren't bad at all for casual riding around town or down the bike path. I've ridden a Retrospec and currently have two single-speeds...a Takara Kabuto and a Pure Fix Premium Series "Grant" both purchased used. The Pure Fix has much better specs, and weighs less, but the Takara is fine to just ride, and has been reliable for me. Buying it used, it had a damaged front rim (looked as if it had been ridden with a flat tire) so I relaced both hubs with Sun CR18 rims. I've ridden the Takara as far as 25 miles in a single afternoon with no issues.