If you can stretch that budget $100- 150 more, you can get a new Trek 520. They list for around $1,300, but when I purchased mine, my LBS sold it to me for a little more than $1,100 in December 2015. I love the bike and highly recommend it. It comes with a rear rack (savings). I have been using mine for commuting, but I haven't toured yet on it. My January tour was cancelled since my ride home support (wife) had to cancel her trip to where I was going.