I commute about 5 miles each way on roads in socal. I carry whatever I need in a backpack. Currently riding a vintage steel road frame upgraded to Shimano 5800. A couple of days a week I add about 20 miles to my morning commute for fun. I've been thinking about adding a road bike with disc brakes that takes wide tires been that's a want not a need. Commuting on 700x23 tires and rim brakes with my USB light and no racks/panniers is fine for my daily commute