Here is another vote for the Surly Cross-Check... The CC comes in stock at $930, which is just under your price point; but you'll also need to think about adding pedals and a rear rack to that.

I was looking for a bike that would be pretty much like my road bike and let me cheat the incessant wind on my commute, and be usable on club rides and short to medium tours, where I could carry panniers, etc. I have been commuting most of the year on what I call my "Yehuda Moon" bike, but the wind blasting down the river valley here was taking its toll ;-) I looked at a couple of the Jamis models (specifically the Aurora) as well as Surly's Long Haul Trucker. Then the LBS brought in a Cross-Check for another customer, and I fell in lust with that one.

'Cross bikes are basically road bikes with a little higher clearance in the bottom bracket and the ability to run bigger/wider tires for better traction on rough & often sloppy roads, which perfectly describes the average pavement in Arkansas. I test rode a 56 (a little too big) and a 52 frame (a bit too small) and bought a 54 (just right...)

Anyway, here's my commuter/tourer:


One thing I really liked about this bike over, say, the LHT was that it came with 700C wheels, and what's pretty much a compact crank (48/36 with a 9-speed cassette). Didn't think I'd like the bar end shifters, though I've gotten quite fond of them now.

I added a Delta rear rack, Shimano PD-340 SPD/flat pedals, and a Brooks B-17 saddle to the stock bike. I left the 'cross tires that came with it on for now, at least until there's a little more road repair going on around here. The basic Cross-Check in this size is 24 pounds, with my add-ons my bike comes in at 26 pounds and a few ounces, before I strap on the rack trunk and/or panniers. I really like the way this bike rides, over the first four or five days I had it, I put on about 150 miles.

Take a look (and hopefully a ride) on a Surly. You won't regret it.

Tom
Steel be real...