Darth Lefty 

I have been trying to use my Paramount for commuting. The gears aren't really quite low enough and I don't like using a backpack compared to my tail bag. But it rides so far and away better than my MTB that I'm going to persist with it, or get something like it but modern. I can't quite describe it technically but I feel like at the end of a pedal stroke on the road bike it's still adding to forward progress while the end of the stroke on the mtb it's turning to mush. With my health problems I average about 11mph so I need all the help I can get.

mstraus

I currently commute on my road bike, which is a pretty aggressive /race style bike. It works to get me from point A to B, but has limitations as a commuter. Primary ones I see are limited options for larger tires, rack, fenders, etc. Riding position is a bit more aggressive, which can be tiring with a backpack, so I really notice any extra weight I need to bring with me on a given day, A rack and pannier would be nice on those days. The skinny tires makes a rougher ride on bad roads, and that plus the brakes makes it a non-ideal commuter in the rain.

I plan to get a new commuter soon, more of a touring or CX style bike - more relaxed geometry, handle larger tires, rack and fender mounts, disc brakes, etc. That will be my primary commuter, though I will still likely commute on my road bike some of the time when I feel like doing a more aggressive ride.

RidingMatthew

i have commuting bike and weekend ride bike. I bought the road bike first and then ended up buying a bike i can mount a rack on.. I want to add fenders and can do that with the commuter.
the road bike is faster or at least feels faster

no motor?

Just one for me.

Papa Tom

I use the same bike for most rides, including commuting, touring, and recreation. I've been daydreaming all winter about putting together a very simple single-speed for commuting, though. The fantasy revolves around a set of brand new solid rubber (puncture-proof) tires I inherited a few years ago. I'd love to incorporate those with a coaster brake and some other basic components to create a commuting bike that is virtually stress-free.

blakcloud

Three season commuter (Masi Speciale Commuter), winter commuter (Trek Portland), folder (Brompton), ride with my wife on weekends bike (Rivendell) which I call the picnic bike. I keep dreaming of having just one bike to simplify my life and to minimize but it never seems to work out for me.

RaleighSport

Seems I'm the truly odd duck here.. I do have one dedicated commuter and I use it probably close to 25% of the time, but with my assortment of road bikes, race bikes, track bikes, touring bikes, 3 speeds, and rigid mountain bikes (bikes with suspension don't make the cut for my commuting needs) I find myself constantly rotating which bike I use, depending on many factors: Weather, destination itself, trip itself, my mood for the day, later activities planned etc etc.. so I use somewhere around 10 different bikes for commuting purposes.

IE: If I'm running late I grab the Turbo give myself the look and drope the hamer as I dial it up to 400 watts. Was 45 minutes early one day when I had left the house 15 minutes late.

That sounds pretty much like my dedicated commuter... believe me it's worth it.

jdswitters

you deserve more than one bike, get happy.

Papa Tom

>>>>That sounds pretty much like my dedicated commuter... believe me it's worth it.<<<<<

Are those solid rubber tires? I've never seen another set like the ones I have. Also, it doesn't look like you've taken the plunge into coaster brakes yet!

RubeRad

I got a Surly CrossCheck so I could use it for everything; commuting, errands, long rides, even smooth trails as-is, or just-a-little-rocky trails if I swap to 50mm tires (but I have a hardtail MTB I would ride on trails typically). Sometimes for a really long ride (for me >20mi) I will take the rack and lights off. About 30sec to get them off, about 2min to get them back on and I'm ready for commuting again.

RaleighSport

No, not rubber cores but they're innova commuter tires.. very very very thick. I've yet to get a flat from surface objects with them in the 2 years I've owned that set. I wouldn't go with solid rubber cores personally.. tires this thick are already a heavy rotational load and they don't have the tendencies to "squish" or flatten that the solid core ones do.

g0tr00t

I have 2 bikes. 1 road bike for my daily commute and weekend rides and 1 rain bike for daily commutes in the rain. The rain bike is a single speed with fenders and bull horn bars.

I want a vintage single speed bike to cruise around my downtown area on the sidewalks and would also like to have a cross/hybrid bike so I can ride the trails in the one available around my area that are unpaved.

tarwheel 

I've got 5 bikes that I use for commuting as well recreational riding. However, I do most of my commuting on two of my bikes that have fenders and are set up better for carrying loads and mounting lights. On fair-weather days when I don't have to carry much gear, I might commute on any of my bikes. If there is any chance of rain or I have a lot of gear to carry, I'll ride my touring or sport touring bike. For recreational rides, I pick whichever bike is best suited for the route, which might be my racing, cyclocross, touring or sport touring bike. I like having various bikes to choose for riding. On the most basic level, it's good to have a backup in case one bike has a mechanical problem or needs maintenance. It's also nice simply for variety. If buying a second bike, I would look for something that would expand your options for riding. Eg, if you already have a sport touring bike, consider a cross or touring bike.

wphamilton

Road bike that I use for commuting and practically everything, and a beater for bad weather that I bought new for $139. For just commuting I'd be happy with either one as my only bike.

cat

I have 3 bikes - Commuter (drop bar Schwinn Slicker - 1x9) - MTB (rigid Trek Sawyer 29er - 1x9) - SS MTB (rigid singlespee KHS Solo One 26er). My weekend rides are almost always MTB rides. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to take the commuter on a joy ride (as long as there weren't crazy hills on the ride).

noglider 

Papa Tom, there is a reason solid rubber tires are not popular. They are hell to ride on. The pneumatic tire was one of the best inventions of the 19th century, and there hasn't been anything better invented yet.

Papa Tom

Believe me, I KNOW those tires are bone rattlers. But for my 3-mile each-way commute, I'd rather long for the comfort of my other bike for a few minutes each day than have to change a flat at 6:30 in the morning!

noglider 

OK, let us know how they work out for you.

fietsbob

A good thing to have one Utility - commuting bike to get to the gig,
then have the panniers or baskets on it to carry home the Dinner . and drinks .


then if so inclined a lighter bike not wearing all the utility kit. for those sporting events with friends.

timmythology

Like others, i have several bikes.

1 e bike
1 basket bike
1 road bike
1 gravel bike
2 loaner bikes

lhbernhardt

When I was racing, I'd commute on my fixie in the winter, and use last year's racing bike converted to fenders as the rain bike during the racing season. This allowed me to save wear on the more expensive equipment used on the A bike. As I reduced my volume of racing, I did more and more of my rides, and all of my commuting, on the fixie. Since I stopped racing, I use the fixie exclusively on the road (I still train on the track, but with a dedicated track bike, although my fixie can also be switched into a pure track configuration in about five minutes.)

By "exclusively," I mean that I ride the fixie for absolutely everything. I've ridden Paris-Brest-Paris and London-Edinburgh-London on it. I competed in last years Furnace Creek 508/Trona 353 with it, and will be riding this year's Hoodoo 500 on it. I've climbed Haleakala on Maui and it's been with me in Italy and anywhere else I travel (it's got couplers as well!).

There's something distinctly satisfying about using just one bike for absolutely everything, like rolling around the backroads in France or Scotland and telling people, "yeah, this is the bike I commute to work on." I guess the one downside is addressing the issue of reliability; if the one bike breaks, then what? But the components most likely to fail are usually wheel-related (punctures, spokes, bearing failures), and I've got all sorts of spare wheels. I've also got older spare frames laying around that can be mobilized within an hour to two.

I'm just one of those crabby guys who thinks N+1 is wasteful and just encourages the corporate guys to invent more useless flashy bike stuff.

Luis

herbm

When I got my new Ti road bike, i turned my Trek Pilot into my commuter...put a trunk rack on it...reflective tape...and I can keep lights and blinkies on it without having to take them off.
Running Conti Gatorskins on this...works out great for me.

Papa Tom

Hey...I said I was DAYDREAMING about it. You didn't think I was actually going to DO it, did you????

noglider 

Oh. See, my joke detector has never worked reliably. Maybe I should get a solid one.

pdlamb

I ride my commute bike at least as often as my "fun" bike on weekends and events. A guy offered me $100 for my fenders on one century. Should have taken him up on it, it didn't rain any more that day and they're only $45 or so to replace.