"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Am I going to really do much better than this for a first crit bike for the money?

I'm on a pretty tight budget and need to get something a little racier and less relaxed for racing/road riding. I'm currently on a cross bike and it works fine but its getting ready to get turned into a commuter. I'm wanting something a little stiffer in the back end, a more aggressive position, and something with brakes that don't make my bones rattle from fork shudder. Also want to buy new.

Cinelli Xperience frameset
Soul S4.0's
Sram Apex or Rival

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n306/therhodeo/Bikes2/2011-cinelli-Experience_Silver-road-bike-600x357.jpg

I have that frame as my crit bike and really like it. It saw a pretty good crash a few weeks back and is no worse for the wear despite watching it go tumbling down the road and being hit by a couple riders. It's a stiff ride, but for somebody like me at 185#s and a decent amount of power it's a good fit. Only complaint, I can hit my toes with the front wheel, only an issue on real slow speed turns, never an issue while riding. GVHbikes.com has them for five something if you want to build up your own... the welds are kind of ugly.

I was going to either go with the Orange from GVH or the white in the picture from TotalCycling. The new ones in the picture have internal cable routing plus I'm shallow and like the color better than the orange.

I was going to either go with the Orange from GVH or the white in the picture from TotalCycling. The new ones in the picture have internal cable routing plus I'm shallow and like the color better than the orange.

You just made this guy angry.

http://www.biketype.com/pics/5573/small/eddy_merckx_stephan-vanfleteren-panos_pictures.jpg

Well OSU is here in Stillwater so I'm sick of seeing Orange like I'm guessing most of Merckx's opponents were.

I was going to either go with the Orange from GVH or the white in the picture from TotalCycling. The new ones in the picture have internal cable routing plus I'm shallow and like the color better than the orange.

Yeah, I hear that, although I think the orange could look kind of cool.

Mine's more about function than asthetics or bling though. I will say after 50 miles or so, it's not near as comfortable as some others I've ridden but that's not it's purpose.

how much is the frame?

I got mine through the shop that sponsored my old team...MSRP is 8 something but they can be had for about $550 or so.

how much is the frame?

$558 where I'm looking. Less than an Allez, Soul Faith, or Tsunami.

nice

The Xperience was on my short list of crit frames. $585 plus Rival and you've got a really high bang for the buck race bike.