Intrepid Bicycle Commuter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 819
Likes: 95
From: Upstate New York
Bikes: 1976 Motobecane Grand Jubile, Austro Daimler 'Ultima', 2012 Salsa Vaya, 2009 Trek 4300, Fyxation Eastside, State Matte Black 6, '97 Trek 930 SHX, '93 Specialized Rockhopper, 1990 Trek 950
I'm in a Capital region. A cyclocross bike would be a very good choice on a commute that long.
There are lots of hills in the Capital region (foothills of the Catskill Mountain Range) that pretty much necessitate a full range of gears. I personally wouldn't limit myself to an IGH. I want as many gears as possible.
Year round will be very tough. You're talking days as hot as 95, with extremely high humidity in the summer time, and days as low as wind chills of -30, with a foot of snow in the winter. The summer is doable for the dedicated, but winter is nearly impossible for a ten mile commute. I know people who have done a 3 mile commute in winter, but never 10.
The roads are very rough in spots, especially in Albany. If snow is masking the potholes, you can be riding a death trap. The CDTA transit system is the much better option during the winter.