I really like touring bikes. I don't know if I would want to commute in the big city with one (I would use something with flat or moustache bars if I did), but for rural/suburban commuting, it seems pretty ultimate to me. The 36 spoke front/40 spoke rear wheels are bomb-proof, the ride is comfortable and lively, and I can haul most everything I could possibly need. The triple crankset makes it possible to climb any hill that I come across. Six cogs in the back is one short of what I would like to have, but any more than seven would be too many. With 126mm spacing, a new seven-speed freewheel may be an upgrade when the old one wears out. To shift my chainrings and cogs, I'm using downtube friction shifters, which are a little trickier to use while riding than indexed shifters, but are essentially maintenance-free. I was a little bit scared of friction shifters when I first got the bike (I went from indexed to friction, rather than the other way around!), but now I wouldn't trade them for indexed shifters.

Another handy item to have are tires with Kevlar under the tread to prevent punctures. I've been running my Panaracer Pasela Tourguards for around 1000 miles or a little more without a single puncture flat. That makes me happy!