Sam Hillborne full builds are around $2500-$3000, unless you were going to build it from your own parts.
If you know exactly what you want, go with the Riv, but if not I'd go with the crosscheck for now, and eventually sell it and buy a Riv once you know exactly what you want in geometry, especially with your caad 9 history; you might not even like a heavy bike like these.
edit: I have my bar end shifters routed parallel to my brake housing, and I haven't had any problems.
Last edited by MijnWraak; 06-26-11 at 06:36 PM.