I'm riding a 2011 TriCross Elite Disc as my everyday commuter, and as far as I'm concerned it's maybe the perfect bike for the task. Mechanical disc brakes for guaranteed stopping power and minimal maintenance, road gearing that leans to the climb-y side (50/34, 11-32), and a very even-tempered demeanour. I can make it dance if the moment calls for it, getting out of trouble with a quick burst of speed is totally doable, but it doesn't feel as twitchy as my lightweight race bike. Rack and fender mounts, with room for fairly wide tires - I'm running Clement PDX 33s under fenders, and they're about as big as will easily fit, but you'd get another few mm without the fenders. I put 200km a week into that bike, and couldn't be happier.