Stor Mand, I live and ride in central mass also, I just can't or won't take my beautiful touring and road bike out on these roads. I built up a commuter bike from an old mountain bike, I upgraded the drive trane, installed fenders and racks for my trunk bag and panniers, a nightrider classic head and tail light and a set of nokian mount and ground studded tires, oh, and of course a brooks B-17 saddle. I ride to work all year and put on a lot of weekend miles on this bike, it's tough, heavy and indestructable, it takes all I give it and seems to like it. I found that the winters here are way too long to wait for them to be over so I built up a bike that can take the winter. It works for me.