I've been surprised at how very many of the commuters described on this thread are cobbled together from steel and other low tech components as well as some medium to low grade frames....choices more pragmatic than I would have guessed from this group.
I don't commute very often anymore. Working late into the night nearly every day leaves me with little energy and alertness for fighting traffic.
But when I do ride in:
Late 70's AD AustroDaimler 25"(model unknown)
Conti Top Touring 2000 35mm Kevlar tire liners Mavic rims Sturmey Archer Elite drum brake hubs-3spd rear (radially spoked on drive side rear-Mark Pace built)
Brooks B-15 w/ G.P.brev[?] post Inverted Priest bars SR stem Suntour thumb shifter for the front derailleur Biopace rings/Shimano cranks Shimano 600 shortcage rd for take up only 9 spd total.
The main draw back is the extra time it takes to change a flat on a drum brake wheel.
Calvert Guthrie
Kansas City