If I were to buy a new commuting bike today, I would take these things into consideration:
- How much stuff am I carrying with me and how do I want to carry it. The more you carry, the fatter your tires need to be. Also, if you want to put cargo carrying bags on your bike, it is easier if the frame already has the mounting points for a rack. Also, the more stuff you carry, the bigger a gear selection that you want, especially if you are going up hills.
- What type of terrain will I be covering. My bike choice changes dramatically if I am on a nice smooth bike path vs. a gravel road.
- What type of weather am I willing to ride in. If I am only going to ride in sunny weather, I don't need fenders and I can ride on slick tires.
- Do I have secure way to store my bike. I am not going to commute on a bike worth more than $500 if I have to lock it up on the street.