Quote Originally Posted by katerine View Post
The problem is I've been having bad flareups of inflammatory arthritis and there is simply no way I can tolerate hand brakes. It's hard enough to hold a cup or pencil in my hand sometimes, let alone putting pressure on a lever. So I definitely need a coaster brake.
Have you actually tried a road bike with brake levers (on drop handlebars)? I had the same concern before I started riding, and I have an inflammatory type of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis. My hands are badly affected, and when I flare, that's one area where I really feel it.

I found that I can handle the brake levers as long as they're in the right spot and have the shims to make the distance necessary to brake shorter. At the suggestion of my LBS, my first bike had (well, still has) cyclocross brakes mounted in addition to the shifter brakes (like this: http://www.amazon.com/Cane-Creek-Cro.../dp/B000ZTIVCK and mounted to the flat part of the drop bars just to either side of the headset). When my hands flare up badly, I use those brakes a lot as I can stop with them using much less force. It is a good safety net to have.

So, I'd encourage you to give it a try. Ask the wrenches at the LBS about it. Let them know your issue in general terms. They make have suggestions that you haven't thought about.