Interesting all the Specialized Hatred
It's interesting all the Spesh hatred out there! Ironically I am a Cannondale guy (bought multiple CAADs) but still think Spesh made a great beginner bike better than Cannondales.
Now someone upstream mentioned BikesDirect. I love BD (and love even more RandomBikeParts.com). But for a beginner the lack of resale ability for these bikes are a real issue.
Of the 20 or so beginners who I've advised to buy bikes over the last decade or so, I think only about 2-5 still ride.
I think we forget that this forum is very atypical. Sure we are all beginners once, but many beginners leave the sport after just a few years.