cyccommute 

Sticking a foot out at speed for whatever reason Is just asking to have that leg broken off. If you can’t use the brakes, what do you think your foot is going to do? Using your feet while cycling are very poor brakes. The Flintstones isn’t real life.

Viich

My commuter bike:

The yellow thing kind of happened by accident - next tape job is likely yellow as well.

Looks like a road bike. Fewer gears, I guess, than most road bikes.

paloaltan

One of the reasons I love my "gravel bike" so much is that it's so versatile. Commuting, dirt trails, tarmac... it does it all. Not sure what all the fuss about starting and stopping is, but I ride flats.

bOsscO

Same here. I ride 2015 Norco Search as my commuter, gravel bike, and the occasional amateur cyclocross race. It's essentially a steel frame/carbon fork road bike which was sold as an 'adventure' bike.

wsgts

So to answer your question, a road bike will work perfectly well to get you to and from work as long as you have actual "road" between your origin and destination. If you are going to be on other surfaces, you might consider something else. For me, I have actual paved road 100% between home and the office, so pretty much anything will work. From a cargo bike to a road bike, they all work fine.

vgmightyp

I have a 2018 Specialized Allez Elite as my commuter. Currently in the shop now to get a tune up, new tires and fenders. It was originally my do-it-all bike. Since I recently got 2 more bikes it has it's main purpose.

fietsbob

Portland Oregon, seeing someone commuting on a road bike with mudguards is not unusual..

Phamilton

Many will argue that this is not a road bike, but rather a “touring bike”, but it’s a skinny tired bike with drop bars, downtube shifters, and road bike gearing (besides the 30t granny).

It’s a great commuter, less than 30 lbs with racks, fenders, and lights.

wphamilton

To answer the question first, I prefer a pure road bike for commuting, have for over a decade. I also use a single speed, but you'd probably call it a road bike also.

Seat height is seat height, and unless you're getting a feet-forward cruiser or kids stunt bike it's the same regardless of bike.

The type of handlebar doesn't make that much difference in the rider's position. If you prefer flat bars, get flat bars. If you want raised up drop bars, you can do that. It's all good.

Many of us like an aero road position because it's faster and more comfortable for us. There are variations. We mostly settle in to what works for us.

Pridedog

Before I retired I commuted for almost 40 years. My commuting bikes over the years were basically my road bikes with drop bars. I would through on the backpack and take the longer route for more exercise. Or I would take my touring bike with drop bars and fenders and put on panniers to carry stuff. The only time I went to a flat bar bike was in the winter time because I like the feel of control with the flat bars and studded tires. Later in my commuting career I did switch from 3 bolt Look cleats to Shimano 2 bolt cleats. Made more sense at stop lights. But as has been stated before, ride any bike you want and modify it like you need to.

hsuBM

Man, I worry for people who are really into trying to treat a bike seat like it’s a chair.

Phamilton

I have traded the above bike for the below bike. I’ll provide any additional relevant feedback to the thread as I commute on it. But only a couple joyrides today, maybe 5 miles total. Somehow, no flats. I was sure I was gonna get a flat. A rock or a snakebite or something. 25mm CAN’T be enough tire for commuting.

bOsscO

It CAN be enough, but I'm sure you'd be much more comfortable commuting on 28-32mm tires. Question is will they fit?

cyccommute 

A 23 mm tire is enough for commuting...been there, done that. It’s not a tire that you can commute on at 50 psi but I wouldn’t commute on any tire short of a 2.1” at 50 psi. I would put at least 100 psi in a 25 mm tire but I also use about 90psi in a 35mm tire. Pinch flats are an indication that you don’t have enough air in the tire.

Phamilton

Nope. The front would fit probably a 32 but the rear won’t fit any bigger than a 25.

Regarding your certainty about my comfort, my arse has no objections so far to a 25mm tire. My arse, being the final authority on comfort. You may feel free to direct your concerns directly to him, but it’s unlikely he’ll care. You probably won’t like him anyway.

Phamilton

25mm at around 90 seems pretty good so far. I might put a few more pumps in for good measure. Paselas are squishy squishy tires.

bargo68 

Road bike to commute? Yes please!!
I do 150-200 a week on 32mm tires at 75 psi front, 80 psi back. This week with the air quality getting worse on the west coast, I might be taking the car on days with an AQI > 100.
Hopefully the wind will kick up and get that number lower.

grolby

This is most peculiar, as I have it on very good authority that no tire narrower than 32 mm can be used successfully for commuting. Could it be that it’s because you were only riding recreationally on your test rides? A 25 mm tire can be used for hundreds and hundreds of frivolous recreational miles over surfaces of wildly varying quality, but a serious task such as riding a short distance to work should cause it to flat the instant you leave your driveway. Please keep us informed.

.cosmonaut.

This is such a pretty bike :O

But yeah, I've commuted with road bikes a lot and they're fine. One thing to consider is if you plan to ride with a backpack or messenger bag, though -- the forward position can make that more uncomfortable.

downtube42

Years ago I became concerned about wear and tear on my road bike as commuter, and convinced my wife I needed a dedicated commuter. I purchased a rigid mtb, threw on slicks and fenders, and it was great. The same week, a friend convinced his wife his mtb commuter was resulting in him arriving home late, so he got a new road bike for commuting.

All parties were happy.

Moral of the story is, no matter what, get another bike. If you must use ass height as a rationale, do it. All's fair.