kite

I sold my old Ridgeback Speed hybrid/commuter bike last year, miss it, and am looking to buy a new bike. I used the Ridgeback for short city rides, weekend riding in the hills (fire roads, not singletrack), and rarely for credit card touring (with pannier). My arms got tired on the longer rides without a drop handlebar option, I want something a bit faster, but I want to lose the option of panniers. I live walking-distance from my work. I don't know much about bikes, but Bikes-Direct-level assembly is not a problem and their prices are attractive (my budget cap is ~$550 excluding accessories). The low-end cyclocross bikes on BD look fine. Are the "intermediate" tires on cyclocross bikes - such as 700x30c Kenda Kwicker Cross - going to be comfortable on fire roads?

The bikes that look most attractive given my budget cap are the Dawes Lightning Cross https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/ltcross_x.htm, and the Motobecane Fantom Cross CX https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx3.htm. What sort of questions should I be asking myself to decide among bikes like these? Do people have suggestions for other bikes I should consider?

Thanks! (First-time poster).