Quote Originally Posted by monkeypuzzlebeefeater View Post
Weight is a massive issue for me. A lot of the miles I do are commuting, I need to carry clothes and laptop as a minimum. I have lost about 30 lbs this year and will aim for another 15 over the winter.

I also hope to get a road bike soon. I am looking for something old and rusted that I can rebuild
Look at the old British bikes, Raleigh/Norton/Triumph etc. they can be had pretty inexpensively and have bombproof lugged steel frames.

I would definitely start with putting smooth tires on for commuting. The speed would be easier to maintain than with "knobbies".