Yes, indeed, wet-weather braking performance is IMO more critical in a commuter than any other kind of bike, simply because any other kind of bike is more or less recreational unless you're a professional racer.

It does look like this Burley is fender-ready, and I applaud its avoidance of shock absorbers. I think the gearing on the derailleur model is a little high for a dedicated commuter with fat tires, though. A MTB crankset would make more sense.

And if it's really $1000 it's overpriced.

Still, just to see a high-quality 26" bike with a rigid fork makes me feel better.


RichC