Euro-beater Cobblestone eater?
 

Just a little brain storming... looking to pick up a beater bike (to be left outside in the rain, snow, sleet, and dead of night). Mostly looking for something to handle the cobble stone streets of Old Europe with aplomb (although I don't really know what a plomb is).

For aesthetic reasons, do not want a hardtail or full swish mountain bike. But something that will take a big fat tire like a Schwalbe Big Apple. A classic Dutch steel bike might do the trick but doubt that it will take really wide tires. So it's probably down to a rigid mountain bike converted to a single speed with upright cruising handlebar/stem. Maybe this is the obvious answer, but just looking for creative thinking from the forum. thanks.

Bikes like these can handle plombs quite nicely with comfort, not speed.

Look for a mid 80's mountain bike. I ride one, its great. Fits 26x2.125" tires and has horizontal dropouts for single speed or fixed gear. Get a coaster brake rear wheel and you won't even need to put brakes on it!

Since the "Dutch" STEEL FRAMED bike is designed for the cobblestones of Europe please tell us just
why you doubt this type is up to the task??

If you must have "fat" tires then your only choice is the Classic American Cruiser such as the ol'
Schwinn's of the past. Being steel and very robust they will work for you.

There aren't that many cobblestones left in Europe, really... Where ya goin' exactly? (Or where do you live, whichever is applicable). I live in Hungary... We have the absolute worst road system west of the Ukraine and Romania, i.e. a lot worse than France, Germany, UK etc. And we don't have a lot of cobblestones left at all. Potholes, yes, in ample supply:D But a good rider bunnyhops those.

As to bike suggetsions, it comes down to aesthetics and performace, if you want any. A Dutchie will be slow and heavy, but relaxed. Fun if you like that sort of thing. If you put fat slicks on a fully rigid mtb, it will be a lot more aggressive and lighter. Maybe less stylish? Your call.

Come to Latvia, we'll show you cobblestones....the last 4km of my wife's daily commute is over cobblestones, fui!