Originally Posted by
noise boy
No need to get all butt-hurt dude, I am basing my numbers off the pricing I found when I bought a new bike last year, congrats on getting a squeal deal on your bike. If the OP can score a similar deal then all the better, but working on the assumption that there aren't going to be alot of <52cm 2009 models sitting around on the showroom floor at this point, the numbers I posted are fairly realistic for what is out there.
When you mention numbers like $1150 for an entry level bike, it can scare some people away. Remember the OP is a recent college grad. All I am saying is that you do not have to spend that much to get out of an LBS with a decent quality road bike and what you
need to ride. The rest can come later as you ride more.