stapfam

Commuter bikes will have a different life to the pride and joy of your main ride. It will be used every day without much time for maintenance.May not seem too bad in the summer when the weather is just conducive to riding and mo muck or grime getting around the vital parts- but how about winter when it rains- salt on the roads- and the looks as though it has been dipped in grey paint and the wheels of the rear derailleur get to 3 times their thickness. These conditions will wear a bike out quicker than using grinding paste as a lubricant so the bike has to be set up for those conditions. Disc brakes will be a boon. Not only for consistent braking but it will save a set of wheels a year. The extra weight carried in the panniers "May" require some lower gears that a CX set up would give you but you will find that out.

Looks like a bike set up for the use you are going to give it so ride reports are going to be required now-And pics of it in the winter after 1 weeks commuting in the road grime. Just before you clean it on a Saturday morning to be ready for next weeks foul weather.