Originally Posted by
njkayaker
As long as the bike can handle wide tires (and fenders), either one would work. Both are going to be about equally "fast". The touring bike might carry more weight better and track better.
The cyclocross bike is going to have "crisper" steering but that isn't exactly useful for general riding (but some people prefer it).
Touring bikes might generally come with lower gearing.
What kind of "surfaces" are you talking about?
Any decent tourer (with the right tires) will handle gravel/dirt paths. A cyclocross bike isn't going to make riding rough trails easier (though, if it has a higher bottom-bracket, you'd get a bit more clearance). (If the trail is really rough, a mountain bike will be easier to use than a cyclocross bike.)
A "sport touring" bike (shorter wheel base) could even work.
I think this post completely nails it. Both are going to be good for it, a Sports tourer might be the ideal answer. I spend a lot of my time commuting on a Raleigh International with fenders and I absolutely love it...the only down side is that it's geared a bit hard for a steep graded hilly area or for carrying much weight (52-42 and a 13-19 rear). I prefer commuting with my Raleigh Intl compared with my full tourer, a Koga-Miyata, for a few reasons...it's faster, it's more fun and responsive and most importantly...it's easier to take into the house!