I am wondering if it is the norm to get a vintage/old road bike as a commuter bike?

Yes it's quite normal; it's also quite common to get a vintage/old mountain bike with a fully rigid frame, and use that for commuting, since it's so sturdy for potholes and rough roads.

Not for me

Wow! So many awesome rides here! Love every single one!
Every time I see an old crusty veteran bike somewhere in the city, still loyally and reliably serving its owner, its patina making it almost theft-proof, my heart weeps. I love seeing those old and robust companions.

Here's my youngtimer-commuter, a 20yo Trek Multitrack 7300 from ebay, upgraded with some newer parts, drop bar and a rack (sometimes removed for sportier rides).

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3d91d33cfb.jpg

Absolutely. Any bike that gets you and your stuff where you need to go comfortably is the right bike. Also, like RubeRad said, vintage rigid mountain bikes make terrific commuters. Here's my Princess:


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de80ee6b43.jpg
Getting ready to start the Critical Mass ride.

It's not the most often-chosen thing, but it is very sensible. Components are well understood, and they're compatible with many other components. Steel is durable, easy to work with, well understood, and forgiving of mistakes.

You gotta love it when 90% of the value of the bike is Saddle/bag and Grips

sounds like a good idea, might look into one.
but prices might be a little too steep in my area of the world.

I made the bag myself, and you forgot the tires. :)

lol I did notice the tires, the gumwall adds a lot of class and character, but I figured Maxxis being a big brand they can't be all that expensive. You could save up your nickels and dimes and get a pair of these some day! (also nice bag!)

Nah, I'm very happy with my DTHs, being fast and squishy and not that expensive. That said, if someone threw some RH tires at me, I would not turn them down.

Thanks about the bag; I stole the design from based it on Roadrunner's Burrito Supreme. It'll go back on the handlebars just as soon as I get around to making a bag support.

An old Norco road bike (Kawamura made) with a 650b conversion and an old Sturmey Archer AW 3 speed hub I salvaged from the bike co-op. I built this up back in 2014 and it's still going strong.
I've got a set of Gravdal 650x38b studded tires for winter duties too

Fast and nimble, easy to maintain, feel good locking it up. Wins all around!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d86042ea03.jpg

My daily Louisiana commuters
 

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...daf7a7b7d.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8260c71e9.jpeg

My 2012 Surly Cross Check. It could hit 20,000 lifetime miles by the end of the year.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...011750145.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ba65e8b708.jpg
2008 Lemond Tourmalet. Been idle until COVID, have put on 9k miles since.

I just bought a second-hand SPZ Tricross frameset.
With some parts that I've been saving from other projects, I got this beauty:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee5096582.jpeg

Here's my current commute machine, a Giant Contend AR. It's a very capable gravel and all-road bike that happily carries panniers, and I'd have fenders on but I live in a dry climate.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...020c12bfdd.jpg

my two commuters
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BR...-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.google.com/pw/AL9nZEX-EB...-no?authuser=0

Images are not showing up for me.

hmmmmmm, this work?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...23275ccbd6.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2375750ceb.jpg

Yep, that worked :)

I am not commuting, but I do ride around all the time, local coffee shop, thrifts (Where I get my bikes, and everything else I can) Grocery......So this find from the thrift the other day will be an official keeper. Need a celeste seat, which will be a Selle SMP, but otherwise I see no need to do anything else. Current seat works fine for now.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7ff6a4ed33.jpg

I don't have a dedicated commuter and just use what I feel like for the day. My Orro Terra C gets the most use for commuting I guess. Below is it set-up for wet weather/winter riding with 32mm pirelli cinturato velos, mudguards, and my bar mitts. I use a 6 litre saddlebag for my work clothes and shoes and a hip pack for keys, lunch, and other bits.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c847e2116b.jpg

Here it is in summer mode, with 40mm Hutchinson Touregs and a full frame bag, which has a 3 litre hydration bladder in it. In the summer, I will quite often extend the ride home with a 25 mile+ gravel route.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db1a19983c.jpg
Sometimes, I take the summer road bike if the weather is nice (50-50 split between this and the Orro during nice weather). I can even fit my coffee in a bottle cage. Sometimes I use a small backpack, and other times I will use my 6 litre saddlebag for my change of clothes/shoes.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...571f730448.jpg

And a couple of times a month during TT season, this is used to commute on. It is not the most practical commuting in a skinsuit and aero helmet, but it can be quick. I either take my clothes in a small backpack, or take double the day before and leave a set at work.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a651182710.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...047e4d11ae.jpg
My commuter, I use a backpack for anything I need to carry or pick up.

chose my fighter dropbar vs flathttps://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...094ce8b26.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...807db2a21.jpeg

Main Ride, day off.
http://i.imgur.com/LiuvtDSl.jpg

My Bridgestone 300, I love this bike, especially since it was $10 and in rough shape when I got it! I kind of dig the odometer even though it's hard to read the numbers (I think 500 miles).
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e7646f5bf5.jpg

Nice! What university is that?

Winter commuter.
 

My Bridgestone MB-5 is both my daily commuter to work and play. 'Coffee Outside' - Every Sunday morning in and around NE Mpls. Recovery Bike Shop organises it. An informal gathering of winter bicyclists and bicyclists in general.https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d3f3d4e2b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f66c96bffb.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1c1f1a107c.jpg

University of Delaware