I own one of these and use it strictly for going to the grocery store and running quick errands. I've tried commuting on it, but found its combination of gearing, crank length, and rider position cumbersome after about 4-5 miles (FWIW I'm 6' 2"). Instead I commute with my Bianchi San Jose, which is a SS cross bike, and enjoy it very much. All that being said, you can't beat the Pake for the price. I dropped an extra $50 for a rear rack, a pair of steel baskets, and a set of riser bars, and it instantly became an excellent utility bike.