Originally Posted by
OneIsAllYouNeed
I threw in number 3 because it's relevant to saving time while bike commuting. Biking faster isn't the only way to free up some time. Sure, it has no impact on the average speed in this thread. However, I think it'd be foolish to make modifications to one's commuter bike that would make the ends of the commute worse. For example, I used a full frame pack commuting one day because it's more aero than a giant handlebar bag (and my behind-the-seat space was occupied). Stuffing my gear into the frame pack took so long that I never wanted to use it again for commuting.
I admit I didn't see the point of
#3 at first, but now I totally get your point... why worry about a 'fast' commute if you waste a ton of time getting on/off the bike. That's one reason I love my Chrome Citizen for most commutes, fast/easy to pack, also it's very comfortable (I know this isn't true for every rider), and there's little aero penalty. I ride the city bike with panniers at least once a week to haul groceries to the office fridge, making the Chrome bag lighter for most commutes.