Strongly agree on the dyno lights. It's the single most expensive way to make light, but infinitely more convenient than battery lights. Nice thing is, we older guys can afford the expense, and we appreciate that life's too short to fart around with battery lights twice a day, every day. I never even have to touch the switch. Ambient light sensor turns 'em on and off for me.

My back-up commuter is a rando/audax bike, although I don't use a front bag. Also agree rando/audax bikes make good dedicated commuters. The low trail front end geometry also helps keep it controllable in gravel patches and in the rough stuff. One of my routes includes cobbles. The rando bike eats 'em up. I call it my cobble gobbler.

Interesting. thanks

Before making any big investment on gear for commuting, try it once or twice with the gear you currently have. Or, ride to work and back on an off day to see it you still like the idea and think it's manageable.

Looking at bike racks at work, people are commuting on all different style of bikes. From re-cumbents, old steel MTB's, touring bikes, older road bikes, newer Ti road bikes, single speeds, and skinny tire racing bikes. Any bike that gets your from point A to B will work. As TSL said, find a bike that gets you excited about riding and make that your commuter.

My commute is 28 miles round trip. I'm more of a fair weather commuter. I work swing so always riding home around midnight, so gotta have multiple lights on the front and back. I've settled on a steel single speed with racks and fenders on a mostly flat route. When headwinds are strong, I would like some gearing, possibly my next N+1. I do find commuting invigorating with a great sense of accomplishment knowing I can get there and back without the truck. Plus I just feel better during the weak.

If you have nice safe route devoid of heavy traffic, that's also a big plus.

You can get lots of good information on the Commuting subforum. You can commute on any bike, particularly a flat route of 8 miles. However, in the spirit of N+1, don't let that discourage you from getting an additional commuting bike. I would start out riding a bike you already own, and then figure out what would work best for you. I've been bike commuting for 8 years, and my round-trip commute is about 31 miles (22 initially). I started out commuting on an Italian racing bike that I had on hand, and later switched to touring, sport touring and cyclocross bikes. I've carried my gear using backpacks, racktop bags, large seatbags and panniers. Currently I am using a racktop bag. I've also used various LED battery-powered lights over the years, but currently using a dynamo light system.