For $2000 I'd by 7 used bikes from Citybikes... build a few singlespeeds, a fixed, a commuter, a cyclocross, a cruiser, and a beater MTB.

I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking along those same lines.... :D

I was faced with the same situation too, as other previous posters were, only my budget was $300, he he he. SO......I found a bike shop with a bunch of NOS bikes in the back from the 90's, and got a '98 Cannondale M500. I know, I know, it's a MTB.

ANYWAY, if I did have $2000, the $300 went for the bike, and the $1700 went for rent for a while.....

or you can just buy mine!

Agreed. Go steel.

Get yourself over to eBay and find a great bike for your $2000. You will get a $4000 bike for that amount of money. Why give it to your LBS? What have they ever done for you? Even the best are only 'OK'. Take care of yourself first. Or, get a $2000 bike for $1000. Bikes are like cars. Get it out of showroom and it drops 25% in value. Most everything you and others have mentioned are good to great bikes. You'll be able to get that high-end Lemond (which are popular in our club with the larger riders) or Trek. Another bike that is getting good play with a couple of the larger riders in our club is the Jamis. Eclipse, I believe. I also hear that late '90's Litespeeds are better bikes than post '00 Litespeeds. Don't know why, but that is what I hear. Checkout eBay. For the $1000 you don't spend you can go on some great road rides (BTC, pays for half a bicycle tour in France or Italy, etc.). Or spend the whole $2K and go high-end. Have Fun!!

i'd buy ksyrium elites for $429 on line
buy the ultegra kit without rims (duh) for $500

that leaves ~$1k for a frame/fork.

i'd buy a Ti bike, like airborne or lightspeed (used)

what influences the ride the most? the wheels.

i would even buy a CAAD4 or 5 frame and build it up with ultegra and ksyrium wheels. done... 2k.

Giant TCR Composite!!

Some 2004 model choices that fall generally within your 2K budget:
Trek 2300, Lemond Buenos Aires, Airborne Valkyrie (105 spec'd), Bianchi Virata, Fuji Marseilles or Roubaix Pro (lots of bang for the buck), Raleigh Prestige or Competition, Specialized Allez Comp, Giant TCR Composite 2 or OCR Elite. This is a good time to get budget pricing on '03 models in stock (if you can get a good fit!)

$1400 Trek and $450 Springfield XD40;) :)

Cervelo Super Prodigy. Might be a little light for you though.

-s

ok. rethought. colorado cyclist has lightspeed tuscany that was $1899 now $1199. $550 for ultegra, $350 for entry level ksyrium's

Go the Dean website (www.deanbikes.com) and see what they have under "Specials". I did earlier this week and ended up with a new Ti El Diente for 40% off. With a Centaur or Chorus group (luckily, I all ready have a Record 10-speed to move over to it) and set of good wheels you will be right at your $2000 for a great, custom Ti bike.

a bianchi of course
 

I would buy a bianchi virota :D
its $2099.00 so I would tell them to keep the pedals and knock off the extra $100 and use my own :D

Wow, 2 grand! I think I would get a custom built STRONG.

http://www.strongframes.com