The decision should be easier but it isn't so much so. 5 minutes ago it looked like a no brainer. I rode 7 different bikes this weekend from 3 different LBS. All the bike shops seemed great and I don't have a problem giving any of them my business. The bikes are my short impressions are below. I am coming from a very old (early 80's) steel bike with 6 gear cassette/standard crank so its a big jump for me.
Bianchi Impulso ~1250 I like it but the shifters were just so so
Bianchi Vertigo ~1800 with a 10% discount at the LBS I like this a bit better but wasn't sure it was worth the extra $. Additionally the frame was too small but was all they had (57)
Salsa Colossal ~2000 nice but right at the top of the price range and I already have a steel but this one is lighter. It has disc brakes and I am not sure how to work on bike disc brakes or if I even need them
Trek 1.2 ~975 the cheapest bike and probably the least fav...this one is out
Trek Madone 3.1 1750. This rode really well and I think was the only one the right size (60cm frame). All the others were slightly smaller
Cannondale Synapse 6 - $1530 Rode similar to the Madone as I recall but again didn't think the shifters were that great
Cannondale CAAD 10-5 ~1350 a bit harder ride I though but pretty nice

At the Cannondale shop they did not have anything in a 60 so both those were 58. They thought they could get a 10-3 in from another store and may still be able to but it is currently on hold till today for someone so if they come in in the next 2 hrs they get it. The 10-3 was 1870 but I get a company 10% discount so why I said a no brainer.

If I can't get the 10-3 it gets to be a bit more of a toss up, CAAD10-5 and Impulso are similar but the CAAD has better components or I could just go for either the Madone or the Vertigo.

Any other help would be appreciated. I do believe it will be down to one of these and probably within a week