Street Rider, I just got back from riding around Washington DC and I literally owned everyone on the road. Cars, other bikes, motorcycles anything. No one passed me and I passed plenty of other people. I didn't have to ride on just paths, but could go down steps, across medians, on side walks, jumping thick granite curbs with sharp enough corners to cut paper, running every light that was possible (safely enough)... All until I managed to loosen the back wheel and the chain popped off. Fortunately I was on the way back, and most of the way there, but I did have to walk it up a mile long hill because the chain kept slipping. That was really more my fault then the bikes though the chain was already a little loose and i didn't have the nuts tightened enough. I was pretty hard on it and jumped a lot of stuff too. I have racing slick animal ams tires that are rated to 110 psi, though I filled them to about 85. This is not a little kids BMX. the grear ratio is 44:14 and the chain is fat, which is important to me as i have broken a few chains in my day. Also the crank is thick, also important as I have broken a few of those too. And the Handlebars. Actually someone else threw this bike out and it was pretty wrecked. needed new handlebars tires breaks... It is Hellion...something

I am not saying that BMXs will work for anyones commute, but if you live in a city filled with potholes, tall curbs, cars, bikes, and people, you can not beat the BMXs agility, accelleration, strength, durability, and weight. The smaller dimentions and extreme durability make it a winner.

44 to 14 is my gear ratio btw.

And no I am not saying it is ideal for every commute. if you have an 8 mile bike trail to tackle every day, you would be insaine to try it on a bmx. Unless at the end of that you have 4 more through traffic and congestion and potholes.

but if you have to go 2-4 miles through traffic and congestion and potholes and derelict public officials at every corner, and you dont want to travel the beaten path, a BMX might just be for you.


LOL

P.S. the same thing happened to me once on a road bike, the chain popping off.I used to have a 10 mile commute on a bike trail too. except on the road bike, i was peddling so hard my next press had no resistance and the force of my foot crashing down unrestricted in that compromised position street bikes leave you in caused me to loose balance and come crashing to the ground. Down hill at about 35 mph(downhill top gear pushing hard). I cracked my helmet in half and fractured my scapula. On the bmx, i didn't fall when the same thing happened, granted at much lower speed, but the threat is just not there, because as another user noted in this thread, on a bmx bike you are ontop of it, not in it. your center of gravity is much lower.