Scwhinnrider,
I have been thinking along the same lines. I was looking at the Schwinn Classic 3 for the base bike. The town I would be using it in is almost flat and laid out on a grid. I was going to use the monster Wald in the front and the largest saddle baskets Wald makes on the rear. I feel like the 26" wheels and the steel frame are the best way to go. I should have done it last year...the price just jumped $80 over the 2007 models

Aaron