New Bike this I know, but which Bike? I don't have a clue

your price range sets you up nicely on any number of great bikes, but because a bike can fit completely different from one model to the next, fit is critical; someone buying a low-end bike might scrimp on an exhaustive professional fitting, but spending that type of cash should give cause for having the best fit possible, IMO. Find a certified tri bike fitter in your area and they will be able to shorted the list of bikes that will fit you best.

On that note, the masses can't be entirely wrong and a Cervelo P2C with a set of race wheels would easily fit in your budget and leave some left over.

 Thanks

Sty is absolutly correct,

Great bike----Crappy fit------- Crappy ride

Ok bike--------good fit----------- Great ride

Great bike---------perfect fit-------really f'ing fast

You should be able to get to a RFF bike with that coin.

Good luck and don't forget to post pics ....er... i mean porn!!!!!

In that price range you have lots of choices.

I would suggest you shop around for the LBS you want to buy from. Go visit and see what they say, what they suggest, how they handle the buying process.

Ask on the BT board from your state where folks recommend.

Buying a bike that fits well like Sty and others have said is key. 

For great bike that fits well the process may work like this. Shop around find the place you like and want to buy from. Get a bike fit and have them recommend which bike or bikes would fit you best without a lot of adjusting and trading parts based on your body, riding style, flexibility etc., then trust them as to which bike you should get. Often if you get a bike fit and buy a high end bike they credit the cost of the fit back to you. The issue with buying a bike anywhere and bringing it to a different place for fit or doing fit after wards, it may not be the best fit bike for you.

Hard thing about that process is you are sort of married to one shop and it is harder to shop around. As if one shop is great at bike fits and another is great at carrying lots of brands but are bad at fitting you are sort of in a tough spot. I've been there before.

I have a bike fit guy that is fabulous. I trust him....last bike I told him what I wanted, the price range, he gave me 3 options plus custom option based on my measurements and geometry of the bikes and the material of the bikes.  I just ordered it, picked out custom paint, tweaked the parts package he suggested and rode it first time after it was paid for. He knows me and what I want and the trust part comes into him fitting me in the right bike for me.  The bike is awesome!

Whatever you do, do not make it red.

All sage advice above.  For thsoe, however, who are reading this and do not have that much coin to drop I do not want them to get the impression that it is okay to skimp on a good bike fit because they have not met some bike cost threshold.

That simply is not true.

A good bike fit will not only increase performance and speed but also prevent injuries common to a poor fit (lower back, knee, etc.).

Bottom line: I believe that fit is everything - especially for a tri-bike when your body is "locked" into one position when in aero - regardless of the price of the bike.

For sure. There are way too many FAST bikes out there already.

I will completely echo the statements of the bikefit requirement as being priority #1.  I had a 2004 Felt S22 and chose it because I liked it, but most importantly because it fit well.  Then I upgraded to a 2006 Kouta Kalibur...just because I liked it and wanted THAT bike.  Not to mention being of average size, I thought I could fit me to any bike.  I loved that Kalibur, but I never felt comfortable on it or did it ever feel as good as the Felt.  Therefore, I have recently (yesterday) returned to a Felt bike.

Hopefully, you will find a bike that you like and that fits....but fit comes first, trust me.  Good luck and I hope a Felt fits.  I am a bit partial to that brand as you can now see.