just that Boys are harder on their bikes than Girls. In General .

I love these! Except for the brakes, this one looks like what I've been searching for: http://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/kata...product_id=628.

Maybe a trip to Europe is in order....

remember that all prices are between 19 and 25% cheaper for you as you don't have to pay VAT.

:D

Get the dealer to fill out the paperwork and get it stamped where you leave the country and the EU.

then mail it back and there is a VAT refund.

That's what I'm looking at with this bike:
http://www.bellaciao.de/en/?page_id=159. It has an IGH with coaster on back and a caliper on front. If I added a dyno hub, some lights, and a rack that bike would fit the bill I think. I'm beginning to suspect that my question about disk brakes may have sent me after a wild goose! It sounds like hub brakes will do the trick for me.

That looks like a very nice bike. One thing I would consider is a swap out of the Brooks B17 saddle for a wider Brooks model like a B66, or the latest variant of it, appropriate for the seat post supplied. The cyclist riding position on this bike is more upright ( a good thing for urban and/or casual cycling) than that found on road bikes where a B17 may be appropriate.

For the right type of bike, like the kind you are considering, a round trip flight to Germany and bike purchase may indeed be the cheaper ticket. Better yet take a vacation there and see the sights.

I don't know if you get Norco where you live, but the CityGlide 8 might fit the bill:
http://www.norco.com/bikes/city/life...yglide-womens/
e.t.a.: The Giant Via only has a three speed hub, but it's a similar build:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...6309/#features

Round trip airfare to Europe plus at least 2 nights stay in accomodations there is really practical to obtain a step-through commuter bike (w/disc brakes) for use in the U.S.? I think I really have heard everything now. Less fanciful, but no less impractical is getting something close from an LBS and then doing awkward conversions from IGH to dérailleur or V-brake to drum brake... such work is probably marginally warranted if one has the skills to do the work themselves. If not, the LBS's labor rate will quickly make such projects financially unfeasible. Now that I have suggested what is (IMO) inadvisable, maybe I should suggest what might be? Well, the suggestion of using a folder is probably not far off the mark. I don't know of any disc equipped folders but there must be some. So far though, no one seems to have suggested that maybe the main flaw in the original premise is that rem brakes are that bad for the purposes of the o.p. IMO the reason that more fully equipped step-through's aren't fitted with OEM disc brakes is because there simply is no need for the increased performance. It will happen soon as mechanical discs begin to replace V-brakes as the status quo braking device. You can already buy discs for the price of good v-brakes but most bikes, even good ones come stock with pretty cheap V's. That should tell you what kind of braking potential v's offer when 1,000 bikes come stock with V's that retail around $20. Discs are still at $70. That's huge in profit models. Other than the need to keep the rims true, which really isn't an issue if the wheels are made well in the first place, V's equipped with Salmon pads can do anything a mechanical disc can. Anything. My suggestion. Buy the step through or mixte women's model that appeals, and don't worry about how it stops.

H

Don't worry about the ability to stop? Talk about impractical!

Perhaps you missed the posts that suggested multi speed IGH equipped with coaster brakes. Brakes that WORK rain or shine with 100% reliability and no maintenance required. No wacky LBS "modifications", no deraillers, no folders; just a bicycle that will meet the OP's stated requirements.

I was joking about the trip to Europe! If a conference took me there, though, transportation and hotel would be paid for by the college, so that might work out some day. In the meantime, I'm looking closer to home. You may have seen that a few posts up I came to the conclusion that the disk brake question might have been a wild goose. I was just trying to make sure I understood my options because I am not satisfied with the v-brakes I have now. That's why "don't worry about how it stops" won't cut it for me. It looks like I'll be seeking out good drum brakes.

Yes, this is what I'm thinking now. It looks like hub based brakes will give me what I need in terms of all-weather reliability. The whole reason I was asking about disk brakes is that I want to be sure I have really good, reliable stopping power when it is wet and I approach a red light at the bottom of a hill. Commuting on a step-through frame doesn't mean I won't be riding hard, in all kinds of weather, and contending with hills, so "don't worry about how it stops" won't work for me!

FWIW S-A Drum brakes I've found are even less hassle to use than Disc Brakes
because the friction material surface is a magnitude larger so pad wear negligable

And You can Replace the wheels on frames without special fittings , like disc brakes require..

S-A 8, 3 & 5 speed IGH are offered in Drum brake versions and a front Dynohub-drum combo.

My wife's breezer (step-through frame) has a dynamo hub that can be upgraded to drum brake. Not sure about the shimano igh, if that can have a drum mod.

Their Roller Brake is a less simple way of adding a brake to particular Nexus hubs with a unique interface
more a coaster brake, insides greased and metal pieces brought together, radiating outward due to roller actuating.

no personal experience, I've got 25 years of service out of my S-A [british made back then, hubs]
( mine use a 7 speed screw on freewheel )

NYC to FRA for less than €500 RT.

Why be cheap?

A trip to Germany may more likely get you the bike you want, rather than some sorta/something that can be found at your friendly/helpful (maybe) LBS. Combined with a vacation it will certainly be more rewarding than multiple visits to typical LBS's with little product, and less interest in the kind of bike you seek. If you find what you are looking for locally or on line, great, but don't count on it in the U.S.

I'll repeat again, coaster brake rear, any kind of front brake should meet your requirements. Don't let yourself be talked into more expensive roller or disk brake setups by "enthusiasts" for the allegedly latest and greatest braking configurations being offered. These items may be wonderful in specialized applications but are more complex, more expensive, require periodic maintenance, and may be overkill for your needs.

Honestly, a bike from VSF Fahrradmanufaktur would be killer for the application.

Plus, you'd get a top notch fitting and adjustment.

And all the Leberkäse and Weißwurst one could eat!

http://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/kata...ategory&path=4

those prices are also 20% less due to VAT rebate :D

Dahon Formula.

Looks like it has fancy-dancy features that the OP has not expressed any desire and may provide no benefit: derailler, disk brakes (not anymore), and a folding capability.

Curious, any idea of the retail price?

1399

:lol:

can anyone say toy

I appreciate the suggestion. I do like the easy step-through advantage of a folder, but ultimately don't think this type of bike is a good option for me. My commute is not multi-modal, and I have secure, ground-level, indoor parking at home and at work. For these reasons, I don't want to pay a premium for the folding feature, since I would likely never use it.

Sigh... I guess I have to use fewer big words: What I meant to say was, IMO, the o.p. should look for a bicycle that meets her needs and is acceptable to her in terms of looks and features, and not worry about the exact technology of its braking system. As long as said system is capable of stopping performance that meets or exceeds Consumer Advocate standards.

H

I'm in Memphis, and for some reason airfares from here are crazy! There's a bike shop in Atlanta that carries some models not typically available in the US: http://www.h2rd.com/. I think I'll make a quick weekend trip over there in the Spring to test ride a few bikes. I'm really grateful to everyone who has contributed here. I'm starting to gain a good bit of clarity about what I need/want. Right now I'm thinking along the lines I-Like-To-Bike has suggested: step-through frame with IGH and drum brake on back, dynamo hub and any kind of brake on front. That shop I linked to has a few options that might work. I'd have to (pay them) to add a dyno hub, but I gather that's not a big deal.

http://www.amazon.de/Prophete-Damen-...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

€325-19% VAT = €263 or 355USD

you won't beat that :)