Originally Posted by
alan s
More important is to get a bike you are comfortable on, road or otherwise, and if you plan to commute in all weather, this means a rack and fenders are almost a necessity. You may think a backpack is good now, but on a hot day, having that pack on your back is awful.
racks are purely a matter personal preference, not necessity. i commute 28 miles everyday with a backpack, even on the hottest summer days in chicago, and it doesn't bother me too much. i have one of those airflow back packs that lifts the pack off of the back with an internal frame and mesh netting and that helps a little bit.