Looks like a pretty regular functional "beater" as you call it (too nice to be called a "beater" in my bike collection
), I can see the practicality of slicks, they have their uses.
For a moment there I thought there was actually a bike called the "Gary Fisher - Beater"
that could be some clever marketing 

For a moment there I thought there was actually a bike called the "Gary Fisher - Beater"

