Yeah, the one really hardcore commuter I know uses both a road bike and an ATB, but now that he does 90% of his commute ride on the bike path along the river, he mostly rides the road bike until winter (path is not plowed in the winter, but the biknuts ride it anyway). He has the same elevation gain as me going home, but his is right at the end and right in-your-face - a straight shot up - which would be a bit off-putting to me. I'm pretty new to all this...

Besides the bike commuters that I never really noticed before (this is where I work, mind you!), I have become aware of a bunch of really hardcore um, "enthusiasts" at work. They hammer out more miles on a Saturday ride than I do in a week - and at a serious pace, from eyewitness accounts. Only one of that bunch also commutes on a bike. I guess the others are doing "recreational" riding. I think their top gearing is 20% higher than mine PLUS the wheels and tires are taller - my legs would be a blur trying to keep up on the flats. OTOH, none of those bikes would survive a week on my commute route - I'm not tempted to get another bike, nope.

Would be nice to have disc brakes, tho <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> I can retrofit my bike with discs... the hydraulic ones on my sons' bikes are really nice... nah - I'll just ride what I have.

Regards,

Tom