Sorry, but I do not consider myself "cool" for riding any bike any distance. I was responding to a person who implied the inexpensive bikes would not last 100 miles under normal adult use, and were/are a P.O.S. and by extension, only a bike that costs big bucks is capable of commuting, touring, and so on. All of which is a bunch of bull.
He is like the guy I ran across at a truck stop when riding the Yamaha XS 650 motor cycle I had at the time across the country. The guy was a Harley man, through and through, and is opinion was "If you don't have a Harley you ain't got SH***!" yet the only time he actually RODE his Harley (a standard late model, not a "collector" or vintage/antique or non-street legal chopper or racing bike) was on and off the dam trailer.

Just because I cannot afford to put $10,000 out for a bicycle (or even $300 for a bicycle right now, for that matter) does not mean I should not ride. Yes, I have a "lot" of miles on that bike, put on over a period of several years. I have a lot of miles on my other bikes, as well. One of my bikes, which I've had since 1994, (1984 Fuji Mt. Fuji) I've ridden over 30,000 miles. Whoopie. Big deal. SO WHAT? I ride my bikes more than some people ride theirs, and less than other people ride theirs; big deal. Who cares? I sure don't.