Hi Dennis!

I bought a Townie at the beginning of 2005. I liked the bike well. It was "friendly," fun to ride, and well built. I tried the 3-speed first, but the gears were way too far apart for my part of the country, so I went back & got a 24 speed with a derailleur instead. The Townie is GREAT for being able to put your feet on the ground when stopped. I recommend the bike to you and think your wife will really like it.