Originally Posted by
daijoubu2k8
I used to commute about 15km each way on a Specialized Allez and loved it. I gave up the race tires because a) too many flats and b) I wasn't racing. The only real con was theft. My beloved race bike was stolen. I've switched to an older steel touring bike that weighs more, has racks and fenders and fatty tires that works great, but some days I miss that weightless feeling.
Flat tires are a pain in the neck for me. I've commuted about 5000 miles in the last three years and have had about 12 flat tires. One time I got two flats simultaneously and had to walk the last 5 miles pushing my bike. I've recently switched to heavier gatorskin tires and am hoping that the frequency of flats will go down.
Fortunately I'm able to take my bike into my office so I don't have to worry about leaving it out. I keep a second bike at work, an old steel frame, to go places during the day where I'll need to leave the bike out.