I've been riding this setup for a few weeks now, and so far, it's solved my commuter bike issue. It's not quite as fast as commuting on my road bike, but it's fast enough. Ironically, the big "off-road" tires are much more suitable to Oxford's bike lanes. It's also convenient to be able to hop curbs and go off the pavement easily. The upright position is much more comfortable, but the best part might be the rack. I've come up with an easy-on/off attachment for Lucy's basket, and I'm working on a backpack/pannier system to keep my back from getting so sweaty this summer.
If I can come up with some quick release fenders that work decently well, I may change my opinion about the ideal number of bikes. As a bonus of commuting on a mountain bike, it's quite convenient to ride the trails after class, since campus is right between my house and the trailhead.
