Ya know perhaps the most interesting thing is a lot of commuting bikes here are "trucks." I gotta get a pic of mine up here... I was rather surprised to see that a lot of folks tend toward the heavier bikes and tires for commuting. Sure, there are some sport bikes, but for the most part folks "geared" their rides for the spotty environment that the day to day road really is.

The other observation is that there are few if none of the "campus" bikes that shops are selling as commuters... everytime I go into a bike shop thinking I really want to upgrade, I say the word "commute" and get lead to these things and I just wanna puke... no way you're gonna grind up a hill on one o' those.

You folks also gave me an idea for an upgrade... used frame... build it up!