Like I said, the fact that with one particular bag it works for you is certainly interesting and useful information. But I think that to "call BS" says that everything I said is completely untrue, and it's not - if you have certain kinds of messenger bags (perhaps "cheaper" would be the term) they do "flop around". The lesson here I think is that if you're riding a twitchy road bike with a messenger bag, someone should be sure to get a good one like you have.

Personally I don't think I would be fond of having anything on my back, but not owning the one you do I would prefer not to argue about a hypothetical situation unless you want to ship it over to me to try out, lol.

There are no twitchy bikes. Only twitchy riders.

Baron Outsider

Lively Steel Frame, Racing Geometry, Fendered for wet weather, rack mount holes where you need them, if you need them.

https://www.baronbicycles.com/

I've been commuting on mine for 6 months now. It's not as quite as light as a pure racing bike, but that's not what it's built for. Besides, pure racing bikes don't take fenders very easily, this bike is built for them.

Where do you folks keep your iced coffee? My road bike has lugged steel, fenders, and a rack and a bag. 700x35 tires too. Oh wait, its a commuter bike, never mind. I see the guys with huge back packs cuz they can't fit a rack on their bike. What ever works for you.

I had a sweet, unencumbered ride today. No jacket, no backpack, not even a waterbottle. I did leave the backscratcher on, however. To remove it would only invite rain.

Isn't that the truth. I am not a racer but there is no way I would be able to ride as much as I do if I didn't commute.

As for commuting on a road bike. As for Racks / Backpack. I have an Axiom Streamliner rack that I bought for my older Bianchi. The newer bike that I bought didn't have mounts in the rear. I was able to use the rear axle to mount it but after I got 3 flats early in the season I ditched the rack / panniers and now I use a Deuter pack that has an internal frame and a mesh covering that lifts the pack off my back.

I used to commute 18.7 miles each way on a touring bike fully loaded with panniers. There is no way I would ever attempt that on a road bike. Now that I commute 30 miles one way, I drive in, bike home, then Tuesday bike in, drive home, then repeat Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is rest for Saturday club ride. Because of this arrangement, I can ride either my touring bike or my road bike, because I have no luggage - it all stays in my car.

As a result, I've done both. The road bike is really fun because it is so light and fast. However, with 28 cc tires and fenders, I'd much rather be on the touring bike in the rain. I am lucky in that I can choose the bike that fits the conditions. Most likely I will always drive in with the touring bike for the ride home.

Get good wheels to stand up to the rigors of everyday commuting.

That's good advice. Tires too!

paul, of the river, now that ive got a rack on my mule, ill let you use my poser badge for a while and you can confirm, or disprove, all of your suspicions. its a bailey, not chrome. im sooo stoked about panniers, im about to wet my pants. i also have a banjo bros backpack, that youre welcome to try out. i like it better than the bag, but its still weight on your shoulders. i need to fix one of the straps first.

+1 pn the avatar saddle. One of the main reasons I love to ride the roubaix to work ... soho is in the shop this week, so I have an excuse

Is there a certain type of fenders you guys are using on the road-as-commuter bikes? I'm in the process of setting up my new-to-me Benotto as a commuter and might be in the market for a solution sometime soon. I'm running Micheline Dynamic 700x23 tires if it matters...