Originally Posted by groove10
So, my question is two-fold. First, is a cyclocross bike suitable for my commute and riding style? Second, if so (or not) what brand and model of bike should I be looking at? Any tips and suggestions are appreciated.
Yes, and the Surly Cross Check. The Cross Check is my ride on a 14 mile one-way commute. Set up with rear rack and panniers, but would be great without them as well. I also sling a messenger bag to carry my laptop when I need it. The Cross Check is steel, stable, and rides beautifully, comparing to my last four or five bikes. As a commuter, it is by far the best bike I've used. I would disagree that you won't gain much in switching. I didn't gain in time, comparing between a mtb and cx, but I gained in ease, responsiveness and fun. You can buy it set up for multi-gear cross riding, but you may want to just buy the frame and build it up to get it dialed in for your specs, so that you don't have to spend extra later on adjusting stuff, like crank length and stem length.
Originally Posted by groove10
I like to have my bike light and nimble. Touring type setups don't really do it for me as they seem "sluggish", although I've only ridden one once and it was a heavy steel framed one.
You might try a fixed gear setup. I set up my Cross Check fixed, and love it for its ease of maintenance, simple set up, and the road-bike-rider connection it gives me.