Strikes me that instead of holding up the Varsinental as the long-lost ideal bike for the masses, we should be mourning the loss of the cheap 3 speed. I think that is the bike that suits more people's needs.

I would like to see someone market a reasonably priced bike with the following features:

-3 or 5 or 7 speed IGH
-aluminum rims
-flat or riser bars
-cheap but tough steel frame.
-no farging suspension of any kind
-big slick tires

If someone could produce this for about $400 and get it in an X-mart I think it might start a revolution.

jim