I've spent 2 weeks once again commuting regularly by a real commuter bicycle. First time since the 1980s. I've commuted off and on via road bike, but rarely just for commuting. Always part of a "ride" and moving pretty quick. Haven't had a poke along, wear normal clothes bike for a long time. Converted a Fuji Professional all Campy for commuting, did that for a few weeks off and on. Clearly wasn't going to do for long haul. No way to really mount a rack, fenders, etc., 25s would barely fit. So I got a LeMond Wayzata on eBay. Current setup has F & R racks (old Blackburn lowriders in the front), and a handlebar bag mount. Replaced the stem with a longer one, got different high-rise bars (couldn't cut down the carbon bars it came with), and replaced the bontrager tires. They were incredibly harsh. Just running junk tires, 23s. I really would prefer 28s, but I need to kill off all my old tires first! It's a bit odd riding non-drop bars, but I'm getting used to it. Oh, and I put on powergrips. They're great. I normally ride with the front bags for clothes and work stuff (clip boards, etc.), and the trunk for bike support stuff. Spare tire, tube, tools, whatever. Planet Bike fenders. I use moderately stiff sole leather casual shoes cuz I can work in them. And I carry a messenger bag with my laptop. I'd rather have it on the bike, but I don't trust the panniers I have.

The basic bike has a pretty normal road geometry. 853 with aluminum fork. Tiagra w/ R440 shifters. V brakes are OK. Bontrager crank I don't trust. I have another I'll put on, an FSA alloy triple. Bontrager Select wheels I don't really trust, but they seem to be doing OK.

My commute is only 3 miles, but I have a brief stretch of 25% right up my road. That's out of the saddle in my low gear dead cold! Then a downhill back to the lake. Then another climb. And another. Finally a bit of level and I can see the Smokies on the horizon with the morning sun rising over them. South of them, the Unicoi Mountains and Hangover, my favorite spot. I pass the dairy ranch, then let Lulu the ancient bassett chase me. Then down to the lake again, to my shop, Gianna Violins. It's a beautiful short country ride. And I'm really enjoying the bike.

I've been riding it other places, too. Nice to have a utility bike as well as a performance bike. And yesterday Gianna rode alone the first time since her accident this summer. She was almost in tears she was so happy. So she needs a commuting bike. She ordered a little trailer to bring the dog to work - that's cute!

I notice I still have a Snowshoe trail tag on the trunk bag handle. The bag was on our Gary Fisher tandem then - we were riding the tandem off road up in WVa. Funny how these pieces of equipment have memories coming out of them!