I used to be a roadie, but ended up selling that bike and just getting an old steel commuter (and a mountain bike for winter) for more utility use. I was in the best shape when I was commuting about 20 miles a day, five days a week. I wasn't racing, but it was easy to go fast, doing that everyday and trying to be timely in getting to work. Over time, I really built up into going at quite a clip, more so than I ever really did as a (half-hearted) roadie just trying to get in my ride and no particular destination other than the ride. One time, it started raining hard and I had my work laptop in my pannier back with a garbage bag as a makeshift cover. I was highly motivated to really haul even more than usual as I was worried about my computer. I passed some kitted out roadies along the way who also got stuck in this sudden storm. They took my passing them as a challenge to catch up with me but were not able to...at least not on the few miles I had at the end of my route. I felt a little silly but refused to slow down because I was worried about my computer. I think they felt silly being passed by someone with a huge garbage bag fluttering in the wind. I'm not in as good a shape since I bought a house 1.5 miles from work.