Originally Posted by
TurbineBlade
Yeah, touring or cross bikes are good for mid-longer distance commutes. However, my touring bike (and many others) with racks, etc. generally weigh as much or more than many hardtails.....my surly LHT is a few pounds heavier than mine for example.
Pfffffff -- a flat bar with bar ends can be more aero than the drops on a drop handlebar, especially since we're not even mentioning the stem height or length.
All of this is kind of just "whatever works for you". Light weight wheels often aren't as durable. It's pointless to recommend a touring bike for a long commute, then talk about trying to reduce weight and ride light wheels.
Flatlander argument.
My driveway has more elevation change then you have on your whole commute.
My 63 CM T700 touring bike in commuter trim is almost 5lb lighter then my 22 inch (58cm)M400 set up as a commuter. 2lb+ of that was in wheels/ tires alone and the T700 has CR18's that are stronger then the rims on the M400. The M400 frame is right at 1lb more. 105 vs STX Both with fenders, same model rack on the back, same basic spares. The t700 cut 3-4 minutes off my 4 mile commute and much more comfortable to ride for great distances. In the top of the bar the T700 bars are actually higher when you want to ride upright.
And no I'm not counting the Ulock.
And I can shave another 1-2 minutes off the commute in the summer when I dont need to carry anything by riding this.
Same person, different styles and 14-16lb of difference between the heaviest and the lightest.
Care to explain that its not the weight and style of the bike some more?
Ill give you that flat landers dont notice the weight as much but when its hilly (as the OP said his was) you sure do notice it. I average 2.7 percent grade over my commute and in 3/4 mile stretch on a mile on my way home I have 120ft of climbing alone. I grind up one hill at about 5-8mph that going the other way I regularly tickle 40mph on the touring bike (and that Mountain bike gets squirrelly feeling at those speeds with those big heavy tires). II dont have a computer on the hot rod but I bet I'm over 45 in that stretch with the extra gearing. (48x11 vs 53x12).