Currently I only have a low-end 2010 Trek 6000 mountain bike, that I use for riding on the road and everywhere, well because it is all I have. However, recently I have been listening to the Cycling 360 Podcast, which is geared mostly toward road racing, which I am not interested in, but I am interested in getting faster by following some type of structured training and other advice they offer. I also demoed a ridiculously expensive $11,000+ Specialized road bike with RED 22 & Force 22 components and Zipp Firecrest wheels at a local 2013 SRAM Road Ride experience event. That one hour demo ride made me realize that weight really matters, there was very little penalty to get up to speed after a stop and climbing was far easier than my mtb with knobbies, far less fatigue, and I could go much faster and sustaining speed was much easier. Also I really love the SRAM doubletap.

Now that makes me want my next bike to be a cyclocross that is light as possible so I can do structured training but which also has a rear rack and fender mounts since I want to go car-free also and I don't have room for a stable full of bikes for several different discrete separated purposes. So far my preference is the 2013 Trek Ion CX Pro which retails for $2,099.99 and weighs 19.8 lbs(9 kg) according to road.cc.

-- Does anyone know something that fits my needs and/or is lighter than the Ion CX? I honestly am willing to pay significantly more about $2,500, maybe even $3,000.
-- As I understand it, cyclocross season is just about starting up soon, when new models will be released. How does this work to my advantage or disadvantage? No local bike shops have much cyclocross bikes in stock, but do Trek and other manufacturers have their own inventory of 2013 bikes which I can maybe get for cheaper, since the new models are coming out?
-- Is it dumb to buy a bicycle blind without a test ride? I don't see how I could possibly test ride an Ion CX, unless Trek actually keeps tab on the inventories of local bike stores and I do some serious driving.