I went with a Specialized TriCross Sport. It was $1050, it is more than the base model TriCross because it has better hardware (Tiagra drivetrain, instead of the lower end 2300 stuff)

I love it. I'm going to ride it the 27 miles into work tomorrow.









I like that it has an aluminum frame, so I never have to worry about rust, but a carbon fork with Zerk fitting to absorb some of the hits that would go into my wrists and hands. I also liked the flat spot on the bottom of the cross tube for shoulder carrying and the brifter shifting instead of bar-end. (shifters are integrated into the brake levers, so one doesn't need to change one's grip to shift)

Surlys are popular, as are the Konas. Gary Fisher also makes a nice-looking cyclocross bike, the Lane, with a steel frame and brifters.

If that's too much, what needs to be done to your Columbia to make it more road worthy? How about fitting some slick tires on your MTB?