The Ink-Pot and the Palette

It's getting easier, though! My Dutch bike was practically a tourist attraction when I bought it three years ago (some Dutch tourists actually stopped me once!) but I see chain-guards, fenders, enclosed gear hubs, front baskets, kickstands, and "gull wing" handlebars on the streets all the time now.

I don't think I know what part of the country you're in, but don't despair! The return to biking as transportation is definitely driving the return of upright bikes. (The bike-share programs in DC, New York, Boston, Miami Beach and Minneapolis all use uprights--as do London and Paris.) The big American bike companies are way, way behind, but most local bike shops, around here anyway, seem to recognize the need to carry some true urban commuters.

You might shop around for Electra, Linus, Breezer, Pilen, Dutch Workcycles, Pashley...they're all imports and not bargains, but they're a good starting point for dreams.