Commuting - What to do? Com, MTB, Road, CX? Anyone have a bike that does it all?

I'll start by thanking you all. I have been reading these forums for a long time. And almost daily since the beginning of this summer and have had no real reason to register and make a post, until now. I began commuting on my mtb, got some slicks and fenders dropped my time, exchanged a riser bar for a flat one with bar ends and loved every moment of it. This summer I competed in my first triathlon and kicked butt on a borrowed road bike. I did not train on it, just used it in the race, and fell in love. I was so efficient, so fast.

So I began looking for a CX bike I could commute, road race, tri race and try a CX race on. A 2003 Trek 1200 became available to me and I bought it, even though it isn't exactly what I wanted, because the price was right. After couple weeks of an 80 - 90 km / day commute, the Trek 1200 isn't satisfying me. It's fast but I always feel like I'm going to break it when I hammer through rough roads, a short trail, and traffic. I've already knocked a wheel out of true, shredded a tire and broken a tooth on the chainring on a curb. With no room for fenders for the approaching rainy season I believe I was right to be looking for a suitable CX bike.

Problem is, none have come my way until this 2003 Ridley Crosswind for 1500 Canadian, which really pushes the student budget, but I can make the sacrifice. I'm looking for advice. I HAVE searched the forums often and it has come down to this, possibly frustrating question from a guy at his wit's end. Can anyone help? Does anyone ride a Ridley? Has anyone been in a similar situation? Should I wait for a more reasonably priced bike to come by?

Also, how can I reduce the size of a picture of the bike so I may post it?

Thanks

To be honest, its really hard to have one bike to do it all. I personally have three bikes to serve their own purposes. A mountain bike (currently in pieces while I overhaul), a high end road bike (racing and training), and a fixie (commuter, training, "beater" though I'd like to use that term lightly).

As for the Ridley, is that just a frame or a complete? You could probably build up a Surly for a lot less.

It is a whole bike. It looks great. In the picture it looks as though it has an XT derailleur, is this possible?

My Surly Cross-Check is a good all-arounder. It's not as stout as a mountain bike or as sleek and nimble as a road bike, but it does both well enough for me on both counts. It's all a compromise, though. For what I do (commuting, trail watch and some recrational riding) the Cross-Check is perfect, and I am very happy with mine. I did not clean house when I got the Surly - I kept my mountain bike in case I want to go off roading. 9 time out of 10 the Cross bike is just the ticker for me, though.

I've read a ton of overwhelming positive reviews of Surlys so I'll check out the Cross Check at a Vancouver bike shop tomorrow. Is there anything you don't like about it? I've never seen one for sale, used, so I anticipate this will be something I won't like about it!

Thanks

A touring bike with (relatively) skinny, slick, high pressure, tires I think would handle most of your needs nicely.

Thanks,

I'll search past posts on Touring, does a touring bike always have a longer wheel base?