Oh, I agree. I'd never want to ban ILTB or any of his identities. His bitter, humorless Johnny-One-Note posts are great sources of fun.

Yeah, ok but what about airless vs pneumatics and 'Who is this Fred person?' Probably the funniest(and most informative)thread of 2007. 2008 promises to be better and more educational as more and more 'cagers' slip over towards the 'dark side' not suspecting once they start cycle-commuting they'll soon be posting regularly in 'Living Car-Free'. Just a matter of time.

I skimmed over the first three pages....no mention of mirrors so far? How can that be?

I commute on Campy. I don't even own a Shimano bike.

It's not about the battles. Everyone has a different philosophy as to what is good and what is not. People ask questions then we respond, it's up to the question asker to weed through the responses and decide which philosophy fits their personality. And of course there's always the element of having fun pitting one's philosophy against another. This sort of thing has been going on for centuries and it will never end.

Frame material: Aluminum! Steel rusts and bends, and carbon scratches & explodes. Titanium is rare and expensive.

Rivendell: Who's Rivendell?

Brakes: I should've made sure that I had clearance for Kool Stop MTB dual-compound pads on my roadie. Too bad they don't; now I have to buy the "Dura-type" ones. I want kickass brakes, though.

Bling: Bling = lowrider Schwinn Stingray knockoff bicycles with hundred-spoke, straight-laced gold-plated wheels, twisted handlebars and inverted springer forks. Zipps ain't "bling" -- they're just costly.

Brooks: The retrogrouch in me wants to try one, but I'd have to give up on the clip-in seatbags for my Fizik saddles.

Conduct: If you're slower than they are, stay out of the way. If you're faster, then proceed to make them jealous. :D

You forgot that Aluminum fatigues and bends, but can't be bent back.

That's what warranties are for. :D

Accidents are your own danged fault. :p

Of course, steel can't always be bent back.

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/sho...d.php?t=118184

At leat carbon is expensive enough that you'll feel obligated to replace it when it breaks with more carbon. Thus, an infinite lifespan

Well of course if steel is bent at 90 degree angle then your right, but most minor bends can be bent back; also with steel-especially if it's lugged but can be if not just more difficult, you can have the tube that is bent or broken replaced...assuming the frame is worth more then the repair.

I would think that most bicyclists who manage to bend or break a bicycle frame while commuting would be more concerned with correcting their own bent or broken body parts; bike frames are cheap and replaceable. That may not be true for those commuters of the let's fight over brand names and bicycling materials club.:)

Any guesses on how often a typical bike commuter (i.e. non BF enthusiast) bends or breaks a bike frame while commuting? Or is worried about it?

My guess is: not many; probably the same percentage, if not the same "commuters" who consider Rivendell and other boutique brands for commuting purposes.

Just looking at this thread, Frame Material would be the issue that most inflames "Commuting" posters. I haven't actually counted, but as a subject it has generated into its own discussion now, unlike the others which were just point outs.

I guess the only solution to that great debate is to get one bike of each, and ride them all. Now if I can just get my wife to "liberate" the funds for me...:D

I've been commuting on a bike for over 30 years and only one accident forced me to buy another bike in all those years.