We're more than happy to help someone getting into the hobby. You might get teased a little if you say the wrong thing, but take it like a man and it's all good. There's nothing wrong with getting a race bike as your first one. You might want to start with the handlebars a little higher than those of the Tour de France riders, but you're on the right track. I'd poke around
www.bikepedia.com and educate yourself on components and bikes' values, then try and figure out what you can get for your budget. At $550, you should be able to find 5-10 year old bike with mid grade components, which will be plenty for your first years of riding.