Originally Posted by Lotum
While the fact remains that long-distance cycling can be done on almost any type of bike, and that dedicated Audax bikes exist, it is also true that most people use a standard road bike for the PBP. One can (possibly) conclude from this that the consensus is that a road bike is very well suited for this ultimate randonnee. If you can find a 105-equipped cyclocross bike in your price range, you should also be able to find a road bike with at least an equivalent group set in that range. Just add lights, SKS Race Blades, and a Carradice saddlebag, and you're in business.
a standard road bike might not have clearance for 28 or 32 mm tires with fenders, and both tend to be useful brevet equipment. cyclocross bikes do have this, and if the original poster states that as his preference, I see no reason to dissuade him from it. do you have an argument for how a cyclocross bike might be an inferior choice to a similarly priced road bike? my impression was that a cyclocross bike is essentially a standard road bike with cantilevered brakes.