For short commutes (which at three miles one way mine is) my needs are minimal, so I've used both my old Bianchi road bike and a newer Jamis hybrid. At the moment I'm mostly using the Jamis for no particular reason other than that the Jamis has been near the doorway.

My needs are a rack, pannier, water bottle, and the normal emergency repair gear.

If the ride were more than five miles, the road bike would probably get the most use.

I've always been somewhat skeptical of the whole concept of "ideal commuter bike" because it's dependent on so many variables specific to the commute and carrying needs, and there are already so many bikes on the market which can be accessorized to meet the particular needs of the commuter.

One of the more unusual items on my commuter bike is a handlebar bag. I don't see many of them on commuters. I find mine very convienient for carrying bits and pieces like a cellphone, gloves, reflective ankle band, the other pair of sunglasses that I use in the rain, etc. A handlebar bag keeps all this junk within easy reach.

Dan

I find a singe pannier bag to be good for commuting. The Carradice model is easy to remove, and has a clip-fitting cover, rather than zip or roll-top, so access is very quick for storing gloves, reflective bands etc. Usually it is pretty empty, with a toolkit and waterproofs, but there is always room for some shopping.

I commute on an old GT Timberline mountain bike. Works well for me with a rack, lights, and semi-slicks. The semi-slicks are rated at 65 psi (I think) and I routinely inflate them to 80-85 psi.

it's a commuter bike if you ride to work, and back home again.

it's whatever works for you. that depends on how fast you want to go, how much you want to carry and how, what the weather's like where you live, the terrain that you normally ride.

i own 7 bicycles that are whole and in working order. so far, six of them have served, at one time or another, as commuter bikes.

Yep - its whatever gets me and whatever I need to carry to work and back. Right now I just have one bike, a steel rode bike with a big saddle bag, and it does the job nicely. I think I could commute on just about anything.

If Lance Armstrong rides a beach cruiser,it's a racing bike.

If I ride a AR series Felt,it's a commuter.