You are working for a LBS, are you? Why pay a lot for a bike then?!?
Here's what I did. A friend knows a LBS owner. A good one. Experienced. I went to the guy with my friend and said:
"I need a bike to ride 10 - 30 km per day, all year long. I want to lube/adjust/service it just 2 times per year (spring and autumn) and ride it every day. What is the cheapest bike that will do?"
The man built me a bike for some 350 euros. All new parts! It is a hybrid (622x40 tyres). I'm happy, second year on it now. Just added some Schwalbe Marathons and 2nd hand aero bar this autumn.
BTW, shifters are Shimano Acera. The LBS man said they are the cheapest that work well. 8 speed rear, 3 front - Acera. No problems. Since my area is flat (I go to mountains for fun when it is not raining), V-brakes are just fine, good enough.
Roads are awful in my country, but 37-40 mm tyres are the cure. No problems with rims or wheels becoming untrue - so far.
Breakdown:
- aluminium frame - strong, stiff, good welds, heavy, cheap, cheap...
- cheap suspended front fork, but amazingly it still works well
- cheap Zoom suspended seatpost and a cheap but quite comfortable seat
- 2 euro metal flat bars with cheap comfy grips
- Shimano brakes and shifters (acera)
- rear wheel was rebuilt by the LBS man with some expensive durable spokes.
- front and rear wheel hubs were some 15 euro quality Shimano that should be waterproof for riding in foul weather
- rear rack, water bottle holder etc were some firm looking aluminium ones - not expensive
- fenders from my old bike, steel ones, 50 years old
The bike is heavy, but durable and works well (so far). It is one that I could afford and works for me. The LBS guy said that adding more money would not make the bike a lot more durable, just lighter (which was irrelevant for me since I always carry some 15 kg of stuff in my backpack).