You don't need a special thread for "the rest of us" because there is no "rest of us." We all ride whatever we want, and AFAIK, no one really gives a hoot about what you ride or how you equip your bike. It's all good. The fact that you're sensitive about this highlights a possible deep-seated inferiority complex.

OK, just kidding about the last part.

Perfect example of what I'm talking about when I say you make delusional attributions of negative traits to other posters for just discussing their preferences or things they like. There is not a hint of derision or smugness in that post. Not an ounce of "establishing bona fides" or of making himself out to be somehow extra-special. Meanwhile, as spare_wheel pointed out, if someone dares to post a thread asking about ways to reduce the weight of their commuter bike, there's a massive pile-on of individuals eager to explain how weight doesn't matter and only a fool or a jerk would care about such a thing. I don't mention that to be all "boo-hoo, people don't like me and my awesome fast bikes," (because, sheesh, whatever), only to acknowledge that there is a definitely a more utility-oriented culture on this subforum. Which is GOOD, but sometimes can get every bit as irrational and sanctimonious as the talk of "efficiency" over in the road cycling forum.

I think you yourself have made the point, correctly, that commuting to work is not really some kind of heroic effort of human and mechanical endurance, requiring equipment capable of surviving a trek through the Outback or the Alaskan wilderness. It's really pretty straightforward and can be accomplished on lots of different machines, from the very simple, to heavy and heavily built, to fast and sporty, to decrepit and barely functional. I see lots and LOTS of people riding bikes in the latter category in real life, and they are still getting to their jobs on time, somehow. And for whatever reason there's a small minority of the heavy and heavily built contingent here feel as though they are constantly being sneered at, which is nuts because they are the majority of the Commuting board population. Let it be.

I prefer not to go out in the rain, either on or off my bike.

Fortunately, the weather here in SoCal is about as good as it gets (73 and sunny with a light breeze as I write this) so I am a fair-weather commuter mostly because the weather is usually fair... :beer:

Yup, how dare people discuss their preferences on an internet forum!

Yours is, but I have always liked the way they look. I wish my LBS would have had one in my size to try...

Have to comment on this...
 

...because I just found out that I have a commuting co-worker who is "like the rest of us."

He rides his everyday road bike into work. He pre-positions clothing, shower gear, etc., and is very organized. This permits him to ride twice a week, 20 miles each way. No fenders, no rack, no milk crate bungied to the back of his bike. Sort of a run-of-the-mill bike for these parts.


Oh, the bike...it's a Cervelo R5 with DuraAce Di2, Garmin pedals with the little gizmo for power or whatever, and he has a really nice Garmin unit strapped to the bars. And Sidi shoes...

Sheesh. His rig costs more than the value of the car that I drive. Wow. Just, wow.

I started out this way with a 15+ mile commute each way, 2 days a week, taking in clothes the day before by car, no rack or fenders, etc.

Then I decided it's just easier to have the rack and trunk bag so I can carry clothes for that day, without a backpack, and I have clip-on fenders I can use in case of the threat of rain. All this on a modern road bike, alu frame with carbon fork, and lightweight wheels.

So what does that make me? I'm just a commuter cyclist. Why does there have to be an "us vs. them", "one of us", "one of them" etc. etc. even amongst commuter cyclists?

Ask the OP.

And your point is...

It's a fair question. The theme of the thread is that each must decide how to bike commute. Many ride what they have and whatthey can afford. My co-worker's bike was so over the top (for any purpose other than competition) that I was stunned, frankly. I guess that I was simply reacting...

There's very little chance of me owning anything like that anytime soon, and probably not ever. But if I did, I would ride it to work in a heartbeat.

I would ride that as well. The less likely of a commuter style bike it is, the more likely I would be to ride it.

Is this thread a response to the Bikes For The Rest Of Us blog? Bikes For The Rest Of Us

Look, ride whatever you want to ride. It will always be better than sitting in traffic in a car.

Going all out anti common commuter today. Full carbon road bike, no racks/panniers/fenders/dynamo hubs. Wearing a jersey and padded bike specific shorts along with a backpack. Even doing the matchy matchy thing with the helmet and glasses along with the jersey to the bike. I love this!!!!! Never worn just the shorts without a layer over them and it feels really weird. Currently in the mid 80's and a 8.5 mile commute to work simply prevents me from wearing any type of normal non cycling clothes without becoming a soaking wet mess.

Way to go. It's adapt or die out there.

Pics? :thumb:

http://www.bikeforums.net/images/smilies/speedy.gif (just trying to get someone to complain that matching clothing light does not get you to work faster)

all black for me all the time...i was a goth decades ago and the aesthetic has never completely worn off.

*bump*

I recently leveled-up my low gear on this commuter bike, and figured this was as good a place as any to post about it. The cassette has been rebuilt from 13-23 to 13-21, gaining a ratio in the middle, and I've replaced the 39T small ring with a 42T, raising my bottom gear to an old-school approved 42/21:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2..._7_26_2015.jpg

I'm loving the change, and wish I'd done it a lot sooner. I used The Mule to haul in a week's worth of clean clothes yesterday, so I should be able to commute lightly and swiftly on this bike all week! :thumb:

Dang, with a bottom gear that tall, I'd be doing a lot of pushing in my area.

It makes the steeper hills a challenge, but I dig it. I blame my fixed-gear for sending me down this path. :thumb:

You took the words right out of my mouth. I use to own "one" bike as well but over time (every year) I've accumulated a "few". They all have their strong points. Carbon roadie for just a quick jaunt with a backpack on, dry roads. The IGH with fenders for winter riding when wet weather would just dry out my chain. My new all around commuter happens to be the two combined, fast like a road bike but fat tires like the IGH. It's carbon with fenders and since it's considered a gravel bike, the chain it came with is coated with something. Hell, it doesn't dry out as fast as my road bike if even ever as I've noticed.