Originally Posted by tsl

Speak for yourself, sir. Unless of course you think I'm a "nobody".

My best bike is my commuter. It has to be since I'm car-free. It needs to be 100% dependable and reliable in all conditions and all four seasons. It's the bike that gets ridden most often, for the most hours, and for the most miles of all my bikes. My commuter is the only bike I own that I bought new, and I bought it specifically with the intent to use it for its designed purpose--all conditions commuting. My other bikes are playthings. And I bought them all second-hand.

It had only around 1,000 miles on it when the studs first went on and we went to work in the slush. Thirteen-thousand miles later, we're entering our fifth winter. It's still mistaken sometimes for showroom new. Nothing has disintegrated, fallen off, melted, or turned to excrement--all those things some people would have you believe happens when you ride a bike anytime it's not a sunny summer day. I've replaced only normal wear and tear items--cables, brake pads, chains, cassette.

So if you like to ride a decent bike, here's the truth--you don't have to settle for second best in the winter.

No matter what somebody would have you think.