Originally Posted by
JimCanuck
You know our "luck" so well. The Commission should be scrapped or thrown to the wolves (commercial), it can't get any worse then it already is.
No, I'm going to respectfully disagree,
Fenders are required because when commuting you'd like to get there on time and with less mess as possible, getting a "road shower" on your way into work is the last thing you'd like to feel.
Panniers are typically needed to carry your stuff, such as laptops, spare clothes etc, and cost nearly the same as a typical backpack or brief case etc. I also happen to think that if you're going to buy panniers, it pays to spend a little more and get decent ones. Same with lights. So I'm not sure that $100 is really going to cover it.
Lights are legally required in a lot of areas. Skipping them can mean a ticket at least, and if your a early morning commuter, even if you don't have a front light due to the city lighting being strong, a $5 flasher red on the back of the bike IMO is required.
All kinds of tools is true, but at bare minimum one should have a stubby 15mm (typically for the wheel nuts) wrench, 4mm & 5mm Allen Keys, and a small 4" Adjustable wrench. Along with a spare tube in the seat bag and you'll be more or less set for small adjustments, a tube change and tightening things on the road.
Jim
Most people when they start out are fair weather commuters. They probably already have a backpack and they don't bike at night. It's only when they get more serious about it that they really need to think about that other stuff.
After almost a decade of commuting, I still don't use a rack and panniers so as far as I'm concerned those are optional for even experienced commuters.
And like I said before, I consider the ability to change a flat a very valuable skill for commuters but not entirely necessary. I mean think about it for a minute. That majority of Americans get to work how? By car. How many people can successfully deal with a mechanical failure with their car on the way to work? I bet very few.
What do they do?
Call their boss and tell them they'll be late. Then call a tow truck or something.
With a bike you can skip the tow truck. Just call for a ride. They're probably only a few minutes away from either home or work anyway. My wife could change a flat but I doubt she would unless she couldn't reach anybody on the phone. By the time she'd remember what she needed to do and get it done, I or somebody else could have already picked her up.
Note: Some people live in places where flats are a far more common occurrence. In those cases, I agree that you want to a carry a tube, pump, and patches.