For a first time buyer I'd not get such an expensive bike. If you end up not liking cycling too much, you'll have a $1k dust holder in your garage...

Go get something cheap like a Trek 820 or 4100, or something along those lines. Walk into your local bike shop and explain your intentions. If you REALLY get into cycling, then go spend $1k on a bike and sell off the cheapie.

Then again if you are already into cycling and this is your first time NEW purchase, and you already know what you want, then simply check out your local bike shops and see what they've got. There are some books you can get at the library too that have excellent shopping tips. One I read had a whole chapter on just HOW to shop for a bike!

Take care