well,

I ride a Dawes Lightning sport... its a chromolly frame that has eyelets for rack and fender (though I don't have them...)

its 14 speed, and its a durable bike (even though its a product of taiwan...)
it uses indexed stem shifters (though you can get the next step up with sti shifters...)
the wheels are sturdy, I have only true'ed them once in my 1.5 years of owning it and I have about 1200 miles on it. (I don't do much winter cycling or riding in inclement weather...)

I bought it off ebay from chicabike for 240.00 (includes the shipping...)