Cyclocross Bikes?

Cheapest frame out there is the Nashbar cross frame, I think it's going for 99 - 129.  I raced one my first cross season, solid frame, a bit heavy buy I know a few people using them and they race just fine without having to put out a ton of money.  I paid 200 bucks for the complete bike, it had bar-end shifters, 8 speed campy on it. 

There should be plenty of used cross bikes in that range, do you know if the local racing scene where you live has a google group or some other way that the local race folks communicate?  In this area there are cross bikes posted for sale just about every day.

For new bikes Specialized Crux is becoming popular, it's a good price and I believe comes with an Apex group for the base model.  LOL though at Cross races you see quite a variety of bikes, especially at the Cat 4 level. 

Checkout Bikesdirect.com cross bikes.  The Fantom Cross with SRAM Rival at $999 is something I've been looking at.

Yes, I looked at the bikes direct, but have never bought from them.  The Fantom Cross looked like a good deal.  I don't know much about SRAM, are the rival parts good/comparable to Shimano 105 groupset?

Also, checked out Nashbar and the steel frame bike comes with 105 components.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_526536_-1_203040_10000_202339

or something like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Salsa-Chili-Con-Crosso-Cyclocross-bike-CLIF-BAR-edition-no-wheels-/160658945107?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item256804f453#ht_500wt_949

Or, am I making the purchase of a possible cross bike way too complicated?

I didn't see this anymore on the website.

No local dealer, but did talk with a local bike shop that said a lot of folks buy a Ridley frame and have them built up.

Anything special about a Cyclocross wheel?  I've got two left over wheels (Bontranger Race Lite) from when I replaced my road bike wheels.

Below is a list for Low-end to High-end for Shimano & Sram based on my research on-line and talking to my LBS, there's not a direct correlation between the two, more of an splitting of the ranges:

(SH) Tiagra

(Sram) Apex

(SH) 105

(Sram) Rival

(SH) Ultegra

(Sram) Force

(SH) DA

(Sram) Red

(SH) Di2

I've got the felt f1x - great deal, great ride.

I won't rehash the frame and gruppo information, the above posters have covered it. I will strongly recommend, though, that you avoid cantilever brakes and opt for a model with disc brakes - brakes like the Avid BB5 or BB7. First - better stopping power, second - won't chatter (which is annoying as all get out if you're using it as a commuter). The only penalty is a little bit of weight, which on a cx bike, you won't notice.

Oh, and if you're going to use it as a commuter, make sure that your cx bike has all the braze on's to handle your panniers, fenders, racks, and any other gear you might want to add to the bike.

My 0.02. Hope this helps.

ETA: Get used to changing tires, or swapping wheels. CX bikes run deeply treaded tires on very low pressure. When you commute, you'll likely want slicks or light tread with some air pressure in them. I'm not sure I know anyone that does CX / commute that didn't end up (after they got sick of changing tires) with a couple sets of wheels.

nobody's mentioned a specilized tricross yet.  great bikes.  I'm riding one now because I wasn't ready to commit to a true roadie when i started.  if I can convince my wife to let me upgrade it could be bought.