gadgetadam,

I was going to say Luna cycles, which is clearly marketed as a womans frame but hey, they are always custom so they'd build for anyone who wants the bike.

They may be a bit more than what you want to spend unless you find on the used market.

My niece rides a Specialized cross to work. Her commute is both on roads and off road unpaved trails lucky gal. She put slicks on the bike and completed every mile of the AIDS Lifecycle ride. Then just pop the knobbies on and back to work. Seems like a very versatile bike, it's light too.

If I was getting a cross I'd want the Surly (because I work in customer service and I just love the idea of my bike being Surly) or a Rivendell. The Surly would probably win because less expensive and my LBS builds them up.

BTW, we don't trust cars either and yet I still feel safer on the road simply because it's easier than dealing with intersections, driveways, uncertainty there.

Oh, 5'1", 47 +/-cm road bike (the +/- is it's custom so not a standard size).