Road Bike, Cyclocross or Hybrid (with drop bars)????

[VeloVT]

Hmmm...

What about entry-level road bikes, which would give you a lot of options at around $1000 (especially if you're willing to go aluminum)? Trek 1500, etc (check out Felt too).

Other than that, check out Trek's touring rig -- I think it's the 520? -- steel, bar-end shifters, all the eyelets and braze-ons you could want for touring, nice bike but heavyish, but definitely in that price range. The Bianchi Volpe falls into the same category, and it seems like something you should test ride. I actually tested the Volpe a few years ago when I was looking for a rugged commute bike, and I found it too heavy and sluggish (handling definitely falls to the **stable** end of the spectrum -- I am learning that I like my bikes a teeny bit twitchy, oddly), but it's a good bike for the money if you like the ride, and many people do. I also tested the Lemond Propad (Poprad? I can never remember), and almost bought one. Also steel, so buttery ride, but much lighter and quicker. I don't think it has as many eyelets and such, though. FWIW, I ultimately settled on the Bianchi Axis (all 105 when I bought it, but has since been downgraded a bit, sadly), which I've been utterly happy with. Very comfortable geometry, nimble handling, relatively light... Someday I'm going to tweak the drivetrain a bit (super wide gearing + not perfect engineered component mix = long chain = chain slap & sloppier-than-ideal shifting sometimes), but it's not a deal breaker for me. I won't lie, it's not as all-out fast & smooth feeling as my roadbike (Scott Contessa CR1 pro), or even as my previous roadbike (aluminum Felt F50), but the fit and geometry feel so natural I don't care. I feel like a kid on it. It's really fun.

Good luck!

Edit: Re disc brakes: IF you think you might buy a cross bike, AND you think there's any possibility you might someday want to try racing cross, you should know that disc brakes are not legal in most sanctioned cross races.

Edit 2: AND if you are looking at cross bikes, most will have cantilever brakes, which are actually more powerful than the caliper brakes found on new road bikes. I have personally ridden my canti brakes in heavy rain and snow and they are quite adequate if you ride carefully (which you should do in adverse conditions regardless of what kind of brakes you have). But some brake pads have a tendency to glaze in wet weather, so you need to be pay attention and if you notice you are losing braking power, sand or replace your pads (some pad actually seem to melt off on your rims in rain, in which case you should clean any residue off your rims with alcohol). Also you should realize that a bike that is ridden in wet weather WILL need more attention and TLC than it would otherwise.