Here's the deal. Darn near any bike works. I've started on a 80's Cannondale bike set up for crits. Worked fine with a back bak. I rode my mountain bike, the added fenders, a rack and skinny tires. Both worked. I wanted my mountin bike back (I'm not sure why) and bought a cross bike, and added fenders, rack, panniers and lights. It works. You just really can't miss. Heck, some days when I want to train after work I ride in on my fancy-smancy carbon road bike, kitted up and cleated... but with a back pack.