Originally Posted by Hardrock23

I would start by going into all the lbs's around you and seeing what they have, seeing what size you need, what type of road bike you'd want, etc. If you want it to have eyelets for racks and/or fenders, able to take wider tires, etc. Plus, its coming to the end of the year, and if im not mistaken, there should be some discounts coming out on older models and you may just find something there that you like and can afford. Plus, youll have a shop for tune ups/work, they can fit you to the bike, etc.

You can also go to the brands websites and see what they have out now, and see if any older models are discounted now - buy from them/find a local store that has a specific bike, etc.

You should do alot of research first obviously, which is why im suggesting starting at the LBS's. Do you want to only ride pavement, no gravel/packed dirt? Do you want to be able to add fenders and racks? Just day riding, or touring eventually? Do you want a drop bar or a flat bar? Do you live in a hilly or flatter area? The answers can help you narrow down what type of road bike youll probably end up wanting. Then you can look at everything in those categories.

How about used? Have you checked Craigslist? There are many great deals out there on even newer models, that are like new still or were well maintained. If you know what to look for (damages, the right size, etc), then you can find a great (even new/er/ish) bike at a significantly lower price. Iv never bought new, but id like to one day. Iv gotten all my bikes off of CL so far. I live in the DC metro though so we have a huge cycling community here.

There are a few places to buy bikes online...bikes direct, ebay, nashbar, performance, etc. Im not too familiar with them and their pricing, having only skimmed through them.