The $700 is the limiting factor here. No matter what the brand, for a new road bike, you're looking at their entry-level bike--probably not much different than what you already have. At that price point, the similarities between bikes will far outweigh any differences. None of them will be bad choices either, and all will be significant improvements on a Pacific or a Denali. That goes for top tier like Trek, Giant and Specialized as well as for two dozen other second tier makers. Not a single one of them is a bad bike, and they'll all be equipped with similar if not identical components.

I have a ten-year-old Trek 1000 (their entry-level road bike at the time) that I bought used three years ago, that I still ride and love. A third of my total miles in each of the last three years have been on that bike--about 1,500 this year.

Now, don't take this the wrong way: 100 miles a month isn't a lot. But, 100 miles a month is 100 more than most Americans ride. I never planned on ever riding more than 100 miles a month. It wasn't that long ago that a five-mile ride for me was a real achievement. At that level, it was my second-hand, entry-level Trek that really ignited my passion for cycling.

But, if you're already on a roll, and already have a budget aluminum bike, and have limited funds, ride what you have (your Scattante?) while you scour Craigslist or Ebay for something five to seven years old that was a $2,000 bike at the time. As a group, mass-produced bikes don't hold their value well. (With the possible exception of custom-built bikes or stratospherically-priced boutique bling bikes.) Depending on your area and your luck, you could pick up a really nice rig for that same $700 and still get change back, which could be used for repairs or upgrades (or a really good lock.)

Still, in order for it to be a good buy, you'll need to learn more about your riding preferences, figure out what size fits you best, and learn the similarities and differences between the different component groups.

That's the advice I followed and I feel I was well-served by it. My budget at the time was even tighter than yours. But buying something decent used first, let me skip the $700 entry-level bikes and save my money for a really nice bike a year later. And I still have and ride that first bike.