I still like the idea of a cyclocross bike but I've been looking harder at choices in the road performance category. There are some versatile bikes there that are better performers in terms of speed and handling than a touring bike surely but also the cyclocross. Maybe not as built for punishment as a CX bike, but appealing. As I believe I originally posted (can't recall now), I'm tired of riding my mountain bike on pavement for fitness. This is one reason why I've shied from the touring bikes.

I'm not going to tour all the time. I can't even be sure when I'll tour again but I do know that I'm interested in something that will give me the speed and agility on the road that I've been craving.