Years ago I had a 35 mile round trip work commute on a 18sp Raleigh Seneca,
http://www.kurtkaminer.com/1986raleighcat_usa_19_lg.jpg. Slimed the tubes, fenders, rear rack, reflectorized triangle on rear of rack, pair of fold-up baskets on rack, rack top bag, generator lights, computer, mirror each side, bell. Total weight was 56 pounds and a blast to ride.
On my way home during a Florida summer afternoon storm a lightning bolt hit a tree within a hundred yards of me. Picked up my cadence quite a bit after the hit.