This is my bicycle. I'm about as good a cyclist as I am a photographer.
It's an early Specialized Globe from about 1998.
The rack is the Topeak baby carrier rack. The pannier is the commuter pannier from Two Wheel Gear. I use a bungee cord to attach it. I've changed the tires to 1.25 inch (it came with 1.9 inch tires). The pedals are Performance Campus/SPD. Other than that it's pretty much as I got it in 1998. It's my only bike, and I put my two year-old daughter on the back on Saturdays.
I ride about 7 miles each way from Irvine to Newport Beach. I pack my work clothes in the pannier, and Blackberry, keys, and wallet in the handlebar map bag. My commute is almost entirely on dedicated bike paths, mostly along the Upper Newport Bay. I see a lot of birds every day. I shower and dress at the health club next to my office. (When I told them that I wanted to join just for the shower I think they thought I was a pervert.)
The car is my wife's minivan.