I don't think you can go too far wrong with the $100.00 Prelude. It is a very nice bike, Columbus Tenax tubing, I believe and has decent components. Unless it is in much worse condition than the photos show, I would snap it up in a heartbeat.
The Gran Premio, although more spendy, is also a nice bike.
Lots of good advice here. Just keep on looking and learning. There is more information out there than you can imagine. I was looking at an Austro Daimler Inter-10 the other day and found a guy that has a webpage devoted to the bike! Go figure!
Seriously, hang out here and search and read and then search and read some more and you will be amazed how fast you become an expert too.