Your bike shop friend is a Godsend, you're lucky for that very gracious offer.

The Bottechia (if I remember correctly) is part of the Bike Direct distribution organization, not BD but a "member of the family" so to speak. For all intensive purposes frame would be more or less the same as the Aluminum Motobecane/Windsor frames from BD. Geometries are very close with some minor diff's. The Bottechia uses Columbus Zonal tubing a nice touch.

Vuelta wheels/misc parts are "generic" IMO, decent stuff but not to the same quality level as Richey which IMO is worth the extra $$ if you think you are going to get into riding. This is something to consider. Again, any of the bikes considered so far are great.

As for double/triple and compact crankset(s) thats a good point, something to consider. I've always ridden a standard double on a road bike but now have a compact and like it alot. Triple is normally considered a touring set-up, wider gearing for hills.

cheers

k