this is a kind of a sore subject on this forum sometimes but you might consider something like this: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm
Some people like this company and some don't be sure to research and be comfortable. But if you were planning on going the internet route anyway these guys have some good deals. You can actually get into 105 components for 700$ You can get a steel frame for like 750 and their first carbon is a little less than 1k Personally, I've wanted to get one of their cheap steel touring bikes for a while now.