Road Cycling - Help, Please

I'm getting back into Road cyclingafter about a year layoff. I had a 2005 R1000 that I rode for about a year and a half before some family issues caused me to sell her. My question is I'm currently looking at The Trek 2100 and Trek 5000. I really don't want to go over $1500 (even though the 5000 is $1799) but I just wanted some feedback as to what all your thoughts were. I'm planning on testing them both out tomorrow. I have looked at the Cannondales and specializeds but, I maybe wrong, it seems that you get a bit more for your buck from a Trek, at componentry wise.

5000 frame is the only frame in this series Trek has made overseas. It's OK, not spectacular. They don't make any other bike other than this one off this frame (called TCT Carbon, not the same as the OCLV carbon made in Waterloo and not the same process).

Cannondale CAAD8 and 9 are pro racing frames.

Trek does not make multi-thousand dollar bikes off the TCT frame.

Cannondale does make multi-thousand dollar bikes off the CAAD frames.

IMO you are getting a much better frame with Cannondale. If you got that equivalent frame in the Trek line, you'd have to be looking as a 5.2SL Madone (they don't exactly match up...I'm comparing what the manufacturer contemplated as the performance level of that frame).

Don't make the mistake, IMO, of going with components...go with the very best frame you can within your budget that you find comfortable that fits.

I can see how after having the 05 R1000 that it would seem like Cannondale is downgrading components. The 05 R1000 was a hot ride for the money. but having had a CAAD 8 frame I'm sure you know how nice, and responsive the ride is. You can get a CAAD8 Optimo 1 for under your budget price that has similar componets to the Trek bikes you list, 105 10 speed, drivetrain wise. and still have the frame you had with the R1000. You can always upgrade components. I think that if you liked the R1000 fit and ride It would make sense to consider the optimo 1.