Originally Posted by
acidfast7
I agree and think people in the states are really wedded to the "race" bike features unlike anywhere else on the planet. I might add that is usually at the sacrifice of commuting usefulness. Not sure why that is.
However, if I had the liberty to speculate, I wager that it's due to the fact that the western coast of the states, and a good chunk of modern midwest, was built after the advent of the automobile so they're stuck with a decentralized suburbian infrastructure which predicates much longer commutes.
1. We like to ride fast, even when not racing. A lot of the commuters here (myself included) ride like we are going for the hour record and not just like we are going to work.
2. Yes. I rode 20 miles yesterday to buy pork chops. Seriously.
I'm beginning to think that the classic rando / tech trials bike might be ideal for these circumstances. Designed for longer rides while travelling at a good clip, while able to carry modest loads, equipped with fenders and lights but no extraneous weight.