Clive George wrote:
"Tom Sherman" wrote in message
...
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.

Candidates?

Carrera subway 8. Don't know how many of those criteria it meets, but it's
quite a few. Unfortunately it does fail on one of the unstated ones - it's
Halfords own brand, hence UK-only :-)


If I was going to get a Europe only bicycle, a Cannondale Hooligan would
be a candidate, but I imagine Cannondale would slap the hand (or more)
of any dealer who would ship one to the US.

--
Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007
LOCAL CACTUS EATS CYCLIST - datakoll