Quote Originally Posted by lph View Post
...I would never buy a low step-through, not for an experienced rider wanting a quick bike. The design of the frame makes the bike a lot heavier and the brakes softer.
A mixte (preferable) or step-through should not be more than 1 pound heavier than it's diamond frame equivalent. If it is, that usually means the manufacturer went cheap on the materials and swapped out straight gauge tubing for butted, or hi-tensile for chrome-moly. Braking shouldn't be any different, if it is that means a poor design.
Nowadays a lot of compact frames are almost as sloped in the top tube as mixtes. I can get my leg over the top tube of my commuting bike if I stand on a curb next to it. Someone much younger and more agile might even be able to do it without the curb.