BarracksSi

They're more common outside of North America. For some reason, we want bikes that have over 20 gear combinations even though many of them overlap and we don't end up using them all. Price-wise, they range from under a hundred bucks to over a grand for the 14-speed German-engineered Rohloff.

My next around-town bike will almost certainly have an internal gear hub of some kind (or I'll put one on a bike I've already got).

And +1 to what crhilton said about singlespeeds. I gave it a try myself and there were times where I was glad I have the option of different gearing.

BarracksSi

Thinking about it a bit more, and especially considering this:

For taking an internal gear hub offroad, Rohloff is where it's at... but, like I mentioned, you can buy a whole bike for less than one Rohloff Speedhub. You might do better by sticking with regular derailleurs, although they're vulnerable to damage as well.

And, as much as I like that Novara Buzz and its disc brakes, fender and rack mounts, I don't know if you'll either 1) actually plan to add such commute-friendly accessories, and 2) be happy about removing them every time you want to go racing (although I didn't mind swapping wheels on my car for autocrossing, and that process takes longer and makes me sweat more). Plus, the discs are illegal for racing -- IF you're doing UCI-sanctioned races, and IF you're in the Elite class (at least that's what I've read around BF).

GearsForFears

Dan - I spend a lot of time in Vancouver, lived there briefly. You want lots of gears. And I'm telling you this as a dyed-in-the-wool single-speed cyclocross commuter (Cross-Check). I would be looking at a bike with a triple. Those hills are going to murder you otherwise, especially if you're riding a lot over in North/West Vancouver.

dynaryder

I wouldn't want to cross race my Buzz Road. It's a touch heavy,and the straight blade alloy fork would suck off road. UCI regs on brakes prolly wouldn't matter since I don't think the OP would be up to racing at the pro level just yet. This is a cross bike that was def aimed at commuting/street use only.

Dr_Robert

I commute on my San Jose. It's a SS, but the lower 'cross gearing is handy when I'm fully loaded and riding into a headwind or up a hill.

-DR

plodderslusk

I bought an entrylevel CX-bike slightly used. Focus Mares with mostly 105 stuff. It has been great through the winter with Nokian w106 studded tires. What amazes me is how well I like it now that I have put on the Racing Ralph tires it came with. For some reason rich Norway sees no good argument for patching up bad tarmac and I love the extra security the wider tires give me. The slight loss of mph does not bother me at all. Riding with a pack I would choose a road bike but for training hills and commuting it is great. I love riding serviceroads in the forrests surrounding Oslo and that is where a CX bike really shines. If you want just one bike I think this is a really good alternative.

Dan515

I already have a mountain bike (Azonic Evolution), but I never really use it for anything that warrants 5" of front travel... I'll probably sell it to fund a CX bike