Who makes a nice, cheap, readily available single speed townie

[Lewis Moon]

A friend here at work is retiring. She has never learned to drive and recently lost her husband, so she is basically stuck using public transit. She would like to get a bike that is cheap, reliable and easy to lift up onto the bus bike carriers. I'm completely out of my element here. Any suggestions? She will be on a fixed income so, we're looking on Craigs.

[nooneline]

Linus made some nice-looking, simple, and affordable stuff:

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0049/9332/products/ROADSTER_CLASSIC_VENETIANBLUE_1200x733_1024x1024.j pg?v=1449708201

For somebody who knows bikes - or has a friend who does - there are a lot of options on Bikes Direct. They tend to have some weird things - crappy stem lengths, handlebar widths, and crank lengths for the size of a bike - or, awful brake levers - stuff like that. Nothing major but does affect comfort ad utility so, I think they're better if you have access to some knowledge and a parts bin in order to get your bike right for you.

And, basically every single bike company that ever existed makes a basic steel single speed.

[josephr]

A friend here at work is retiring. She has never learned to drive and recently lost her husband, so she is basically stuck using public transit. She would like to get a bike that is cheap, reliable and easy to lift up onto the bus bike carriers. I'm completely out of my element here. Any suggestions? She will be on a fixed income so, we're looking on Craigs.

probably not much help, but when I hear "townie" I don't think light/easy...and when I think light/easy, I don't think 'inexpensive"....my suggestion is an alloy hybrid type bike and convert it over to SS --- or maybe just a 1X set-up....too many new riders get confused about the whole gear shifting thing.

If buying new, probably a $500 investment + helmet + lock --- that's a wad of cash for someone on a fixed income!

I have a Specialized SportRock with Shimano components for my kid to get around on campus --- I'm keeping it around for when my next kid goes off to college. I bought it for $100 at a thrift store....

[p nut]

Giant makes comfort bikes. Not SS, but 1x8, which should be simple enough. The step through design would be almost mandatory, I'd think...

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/suede.1/22228/84000/

Breezer looks like they make nice bikes as well. I do like the IGH better, as the maintenance would be minimal, and you can shift while stopped.

http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes/details/downtown-3-st4

http://www.breezerbikes.com/images/products/2016/downtown-3-st4/high/16_BREEZER_DOWNTOWN_3_ST_SIDE_3.jpg

But these bikes aren't going to be too light. Would probably need some help getting it up on the bus carrier...

[Lewis Moon]

The more I mull this around, the more I think I might go hunting an old Peugeot Mixte to convert. Probably be duking it out with the hipsters on this one..

[ceolwulf]

The more I mull this around, the more I think I might go hunting an old Peugeot Mixte to convert. Probably be duking it out with the hipsters on this one..


I think as well this is likely the best option. Would probably be lighter than anything new for the same price.