This biking shopping is driving me mad :)

[jleigh]

I need help lol, I was in love with the Cannondale CAAD10 5 until I saw the price tag! Not in the budget!! The LBS (local bike shop yes??) put me on a Synapse Alloy 6 Tiagra and it felt pretty good, but I am inexperienced and am not sure what it should and should not feel like. Our roads are pretty smooth, the area I live in is fairly new development...

I'm hoping for some input on this bike, and maybe a few other bikes comparable to the two listed above. I need a 44cm for Cannondale, so not sure what size I'd be for say, Specialized or Scott?? I'm looking to stay under $1k, the Synapse 2012 was actually offered at $1k, I'm not sure if that is a good deal or not :)

Anywho, thanks everyone!!

[Seajay]

Ultimately components are going to match the price point you decide to spend. Within a range of bikes with higher quality frames you are going to get roughly equal components.
My advice is to not run yourself around in circles trying to figure out which one has the better this and the worse that. There's no free lunch, so any higher end parts will usually be offset by lower a end frame or wheels.
All three bikes you are looking at are reputable brands. Riding the models in your price range...which "speaks to you?" Which do you feel confident and in control of? Which was fun and exciting to ride?
I always advise my "new to bikes" clients to pay attention to how confident the bike makes them feel as well as how it feels thru the shoulders and the base of the neck. If these things are A+...Its hard to imagine they could be too far off of a nice fit/good bike for them.
Don't allow yourself to be talked into a size that doesn't feel good. Regardless of deals, sales, colors or "biker friends" advice. Try to always take an additional ride on a size smaller than originally offered, just to check.
Goodness I sound bossy. :) Hope that helps a bit.