Originally posted by mechBgon
I assume you commute by auto at present? What about driving partway, parking at a safe place (if there is one; maybe a friend's business has a free spot in their lot?), and riding the rest, so you're doing more like 15 miles each way?
This would make the most sense, except the commuting lots are a disaster waiting to happen. Maybe the drive and ride would work, but I am not sure how. Right now I drive about 10 miles to a park and ride lot where I get a commuter bus. The lot is unattended during the day, and I had another thread about trying to secure my bike at that lot. So far no winning ideas.
[80 miles a day is a lot, and particularly if the weather turns against you for the ride home. If you intend to put that much of your time into riding, I hope you're single 
yes, the distance is daunting. I am separated (too much the procrastinator to file for divorce), and another issue is I have the kids about half the time.
What kind of bike would you ride on if you did start commuting that distance? Probably a road-racing or sport-touring bike with a light system, I imagine?
I'm not sure, but I have three or four road bikes, an old sport touring bike and a mountain bike I could use. I am sitll thinking about the light system. Only the old touring bike has a generator, and it is a waste of weight. I have lots of low cost add on lights, battery powered halogen, and might get one of the rechargeable systems if I were getting into it. If I get serious aobut commuting I would probably get a Fuji touring bike from bikesdirect and add the schmidt generator from Peter White Cycles or Sheldon Brown.
The reason I posted this was to get new ideas, and the idea of driving in part way and then riding has some appeal. thanks, and I hope I get some other good ideas.