Originally Posted by
mikeC_32541
So my concerns boil down to whether or not I am going to have problems using this as a commuter bike, like being more susceptible to flats, drop bars instead of flats at times where traffic is heavy, and then adding lights to it, since I will be riding in the dark.
I'm not concerned about fenders, since it hardly rains here (except this week) and I'm not worried about carrying anything to/from work. I could take the car once a week (or when I know it will be raining) and leave a week's worth of clothes at the office.
What else am I missing as far as the downsides of using this as a commuter bike? Would I be better off just buying a cheaper commuter bike and then waiting to get the orbea as a second bike? If so, what's a good choice for 12 miles each way?
I have a Specialized Tarmac and a Hardrock but I use the Tarmac about 90% of the time to commute around 18 miles round trip. I have a NiteRider headlight and two Planet Blinky taillights on my Tarmac. I use a Baileyworks messenger bag to carry my change of cloths and anything else I may need to carry to and from work. If I decide to travel light, I just leave the cloths at work and bring them home on the days I don't ride. Atlanta can be very hilly so I love having a nice light fast bike to attack those hills on the way home after a hard days work; my Specialized Hardrock just doesn’t cut it on those hills so I take it out on family rides.
If you don't mind carrying your cloths in a backpack or messenger I'd say get the Orbea and enjoy the ride; that's about the only downside I can see, unless you have to carry a ton of stuff back and forth to work.
Also, I hardly ever get flats but I always buy good tires and now buy tubes with slim linings.