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Step 1
Choose a light but durable frame: aluminum or lugged steel. Expensive alloys/lightweight carbon frames are great for racing, but may not withstand jolts from potholes, or be easily repaired or replaced in case of accidents.
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Step 2
Choose an appropriate style: road bikes, of course, but also consider touring, comfort, or "hard tail" mountain bikes. Full-suspension frames are not normally necessary unless you commute by farm road or mountain trail, and shocks add weight that make pedalling more work.
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Step 3
Make sure your frame is compatible with mounting fenders, the most important accessory for comfortable year-round commuting. The most applicable frames have braised-on fender mounts, though many fender kits come with adapters for those without these.
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Step 4
Make sure your fork and rear triangle will accommodate fenders, and the best commuter bikes will also have clearance for different types of tires: slicks for good weather, and cyclo-cross knobby or larger treads for fall and winter when traction is more necessary and more junk on the roads can lead to more flats.
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Step 5
Match your bike with the types of lights you will use; this is pretty easy, but you need to have bottle cage mounts if your light battery goes in a bottle cage, for example. If buying the bike first, match the lights, front and rear, with the bike.
