After commuting on my Surly Cross Check for more than two years, I think I have finally got the right balance of tires, gear ratios, lighting, clothing, and storage.

I had been riding on 28's since spring. I briefly flirted with using 32's, but they felt too clunky. I just found out why--I had too big of a front chain ring. In the spring, I put on a new 13-26 rear cassette with a 52-tooth front ring, replacing the 48-tooth ring I previously had. The 52 was nice for the long-steady down hill on my way to work because I could hit 35 mph for short bursts.

But the 28's recently started to wear thin. Instead of buying new tires, I pulled out the nearly-new 32's (an Urban Max and a Soma New Xpress). To compensate for the wider tires, I put my old 48-tooth chain ring back on. Perfect! I could pedal quickly, maintain a decent speed, and go over bumpier parts of the road. Add to that my new Cat Eye TL-LD1000 blinkie (fantastic!) and the year-old Cygolite HID, my commuter is in as efficient as it has ever been--a bicycle SUV.

Edit: As I explain in this thread, my Cygolite died after about 18 months of use. The company wants $100 to $200 to replace the lamp and/or ballast. That's a rip-off.

(I keep the blinkie between my seatbag and the saddle. I put a zip tie on each rail under the saddle, and then ran the blinkie seat-post holder through the zip ties. Voila! It has the flexibility to handle bumps without falling off, and I don't have to remove my seatbag or panniers to make it fit.)

The downside is that the bike is on the heavy side, but, as many have reminded me, it's a commute, not the TdF.

It's nice to learn all the little things along the way. But it's really nice to get it right.
I know how you feel.

Now you'll crash and it'll all be wrecked.
j/k hehe.

I did have some good luck. I ordered the Cateye before leaving for work on Tuesday. A co-worker ordered the same thing using his (horror of horrors) work computer Tuesday morning. I got mine Thursday, his was backordered. I think I got the last one.

It's just an illusion. Once you start tinkering, you never stop. Have you looked into disc brakes? Wouldn't a Brooks saddle be more comfortable? Don't you need fenders for the rain? Where's your bar-end mirror and bell?

It's too late! He already crashed!

He was just riding along in NYC and some kind of giant bright light hit him. He was blinded for life, the paint on the bike, some of his clothes, and one hand was burned. Some of the pavement was even melted!

Some witnesses say they saw a Nitetrider taillight on a bicycle leaving the scene in a hurry.

One witness claims he saw a Litespeed with a headlight the size of a small television on it.

I do have fenders and a bell, as well as a mirror on my helmet. I didn't include everything in the list above (a pretty complete list of what I carry at the beginning of the "Advice for New Commuter's Thread"). Another thing that helps make the ride work well is a pair of good sunglasses with replaceable lenses--dark polarized for bright days, amber for low-light situations.

But you're right about tinkering. I'll probably put a Brooks saddle on my Christmas wish list. I also will hope for clear lenses for the "sun"glasses so I can use them at night as eye-protection.

But, in terms of function, everything just popped into place this morning.

And, 2manybikes, fortunately I have not been in an accident since I walked into the house.

You're doing good!