I treated myself to one of these before winter set in: Save Up to 60% Off Titanium Cyclocross Bicycles | Road Bikes - Motobecane Fantom Cross Team Titanium | Cross Bikes
Takes a rack (disc version) and fenders well. Disc brakes are awesome. The bike is on a really sweet deal right now. If you can afford it and you're not opposed to a little assembly, it's a really great ride.

Fyi, don't know if you've seen this before, but while the 35mm Schwalbe Marathon Winter used to be the skinniest decent studded tire (there was the Nokian A10 to but reports weren't great on it), 45nrth now makes what sounds like a good 30c studded tire:
45NRTH Xerces Studded Tire





I mention it in case it might happen to fit your current drop bar bike, or it might make it a bit easier to find a used bike that it would fit on. I know a 30c tire, for example, just fits onto my older Specialized Seqouia (I know because they put one on, I didn't like the tire they choose so they took it off) - and this was one of the models where there's not really clearance for wider tires, fenders, etc.

This describes exactly why I got rid of my hybrid and replaced it with my 2006 Trek Portland. (The Portland was essentially a CX front end spliced to a light touring rear end.) The hybrid was heavy, slow, handled like an oil tanker, opened me up to the wind like a sail, and every bump went straight up my spine.

All I own now are drop bar bikes. I'm a happy man.

One thing you'll notice when riding the studs on a CX bike is that in conditions like heavy snow, brown sugar snow, and icy ruts, you'll need to consciously shift your weight back off the bars. The drop bar position shifts your weight forward, but in these conditions it causes the bike to sideslip.

That budget can get you a great used CX bike. They have become very popular in the last few years so a lot of companies are making them which is a good thing as the availability is reflected in the used market. Lots of cross riders are always upgrading. I bought my used Santa Cruz stigmata with full Dura Ace group EC90 carbon cross fork and Mavic kysrium equip wheels, brand new TRP brakes and tires for $800!!! I swapped a few parts out but I have less than $1k in this bike and like I mentioned in my earlier post it is flat out amazing. I cant imagine a better value.

I just tried the 35mm studded tires on my Giant Rapid and they are okay. There's enough clearance for it.

I was in contact with a couple of CL sellers this morning. One for this bike:

2010 KHS CX 200 - Small

Almost went for it. But the other seller was one selling part I need for the drop bar conversion of the Bianchi. Almost went for that too, but the prospect of having to do that work frankly fills me with dread right now.

So I'm postponing the inevitable. I mounted the studded tires on the Giant Rapid 2. Yes, it's still not a drop bar, but it's more aggressive position, and it's got bar ends. It's not perfect, but it's cost effective and it's something I can live with for the time being.T

The other issue might be the mudguards. I had them on the Bianchi, but this one will not take them with the 35mm tires. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.