I commute on this nearly everyday. I am starting to race a MTB (different from my commuter), so the commute helps my training. I ride 50-90 miles a week not including the weekends. I also have a herniated disc that is healing, so bending over a lot is not an option (i.e. drops are pointless for me to use). I can jump curbs, ride down and up dirt mounds, etc. I never see people doing those things on a road bike here. I put some steeper gearing on it, it has an 8-speed 12-25 in the rear and a 52-42-30 triple in the front, this helps a lot with speed. I run some 1.5" skinnies pumped up to 80-90 PSI. I can beat most roadies unless there is a serious headwind, (though I got beat by a girl on a fixed gear a few weeks ago, hehe).