Originally Posted by
jimmuller
I'm not sure I agree with you. A vintage bike with decent components is not expensive, is easy to maintain, is more or less indestructible. Also 4.5 miles is not a great distance. My commute is 16 miles each way, with about 700ft of climbing each way. I've done it on all my bikes, from super-bikes like the Masi or Motobecane Champion Team to that basic bike-boom Peugeot. I use the Peugeot, the oldest and heaviest, now because it is set up with lights and because I don't mind if it gets dirty and wet. It has served me well for 42 years, and continues to serve.
What I meant was that as a first time road bike buyer and user I seems that reading all the input that a vintage bike might not be the most sensible first choice for me. E.g. I had no idea about that information just on that Peugeot bike.
Your right 4.5 miles is not a long commute, although I bet it will feel like it when I start out!