My original thought was the 1500 also but I was a little concerned about some of the city sections with the curbs and potholes.
As far as curbs are concerned, regardless of the bike you use you should be extremely careful (and not fast) entering and leaving sidewalks, since you otherwise are risking trouble with pedestrians, bikes and cars.
I'd vote for a road bike with kevlar-belted tires
and tire liners. All the flat protection will slow you down some, but not as much as fixing flats would.