Commuting - Commuting/Road Bike for Tall Rider

I commute about 9 miles each way to work on a combination of paved paths and roads. I am now riding my ATB, but am ready for something faster. I am tall (6' 2") with long arms and trunk. I would put on a rack and probably fenders and would like to also use this bike for occasional long road rides/light touring. I am leaning toward drop handlebars in the $800-$1000 price range, but am willing to pay a little more to get a quality bike that will last me for years of riding.

I've gotten several suggestions from bike shops, but would appreciate your ideas.

Being 6'3' I have never had trouble finding a production bike to fit me. Its all a matter of what you like to ride. I ride a older Specialized Sequoia which is aluminum framed and is a hybrid (they are road bikes now). As a commuter I really do not look for light weight but durability the older bikes are heavier and more durable for this kind of riding. Steel framed bikes are more forgiving of the road conditions. If you are planning on hauling bags on your bike steel is the best way to go. Buying used may be the way to go but I suggest you visit your local LBS and test drive some of the different models out there. You have a lot of commuters in that town so your shops should be able to give you the advice you need to get started. The price range you mentioned has a wide variety of good quality bikes to choose from. As far as quality for your buck, and something that you will still be riding in 20 years I am a huge fan of Bianchi and Trek they have very good track records when it comes to longevity. And buy yourself a good sturdy lock!

At six foot plus, with long legs, I've never had trouble finding a frame that fits... 62cm Peugeots seem about perfect. The length of your legs may have more to do with what frame size is right than anything else.

I'll second Nate on the steel. Also, a lot of what you buy/ride has to with security issues for the bike itself. Can you bring your bike into work or do you have to lock it up outside? If the later, I'd try to find a servicable beater/bike boom ten speed. One, it'll be less attractive to thieves. Two, if it does get stolen, you'll be out less cash. My main commuter right now is a 1976 Peugeot UO-10 I bought for thirty-five bucks at a thrift store. It rides fine and is capable of nice bursts of spped when needed. If it gets stolen, I'd be pissed, because I really like the bike, but I'm not out a thousand bucks. My only advice is when looking at older bikes, stick to cotterless cranks and alloy rims. Learn to do basic maintainence yourself, as well.

It depends how long are your legs. I'm only 5' 11", but with 35.5" legs, so my preferred bike size is 63-66 cm. Very few are made nowadays, but many manufacturers used to make 25" (63,5 cm) and even 27" (66 cm) bikes. Besides, 10-15 years ago, most "road" bikes had better clearance around brakes, which made them better commuters than modern road bikes.

IOW, try to find a 10-18 year old bike.