After getting an electric cargo bike to haul the kids around, I cannot imagine not having the motor for any hill. Sometimes I ride the electric with no assist, and sometimes I don’t want to get sweaty and leave it on full assist mode (Bosch Turbo).

I still have a road bike for individual exercise, but the electric is amazing for transportation.

Previously I used a cheap steel MTB for commuting. It was slow but I miss all the low gears for climbing hills... also didn't need to worry about leaving it anywhere because it looked like a donkey's bottom. The disc brakes had the nice sound effect of announcing my presence to nearby car drivers lol.

After a couple of years I ended up switching to a dutch-style commuter bike: Aluminium frame, High swept handlebar, 7 speed internal gears, roller brakes and a chain case. Maintenance is now generally something I don't have to worry too much about 😁

My next commuter would likely be a cheap steel beater though, albeit with the same low maintenance creature comforts. I'm careful where I leave my current bike because it looks expensive IMO, and someone's already tried to to steal it 😅

I wfh now so I don’t have a commute, but I commuted by Brompton for years and I love it as a commuter bike. The front luggage mount is nice and stiff and not off-balanced like a single pannier, I can take it into the office instead of worrying about it being unattended for 8 hours, and I have the flexibility to change plans during the day because it can be easily taken on transit or put in a friend/coworker’s trunk