On Mar 19, 9:20*am, Tom Sherman
wrote:
Plan B would be to get a commuter bike to ride at least in the winter,
and to use for errands. Commuting distance combined with a shopping stop
would be 8 miles or less.

Requirements a

A. Heavy duty frame - should be able to handle 120 kgf of rider and
cargo on less than ideal roads. Rigid fork hard-tail required.
B. Corrosion resistant - a fat tube aluminium alloy frame is fine as
long as it is overbuilt (see A).
C. Decent handling on snow, ruts, gravel, over broken pavement.
D. Mounts for fenders and clearance for fat (60-mm) tires.
E. Mounts for a rear rack that can handle two loaded bucket panniers.
F. Able to use an internally gear hub.
G. Dynamo hub lighting.
H. Hub brakes - drums preferred for theft resistance.
I. ISO 559-mm wheel size preferred for greater fat tire choices.

http://helenscycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=51876

Electra Amsterdam Balloon 8. Yeah, it's derailleured, but it's a 1X8
system which is about stupidly easy to maintain as it gets.. Roller
brakes and Fat Franks. Oh yeah. You can rebuild the front wheel onto a
SA drum/dyno if it's that important to not have to change AAs every
three months.