Good idea, Malkin. No starving kids.
I think my first road bike cost around $1,000. It was aluminum and had 105 components, which did not work that well. I*never* was able to use the big ring. A year and half later I bought a carbon Trek 5200 with Ultegra for 2500. I eventually had to put a Dura Ace front derailleur on that bike, as it had shifting problems, too.
I now ride a Kuota Kebel that cost around 5K. It's very light (14.8 lbs) and has Ultegra. I switched out the expensive carbon bar for an aluminum short/shallow drop bar that is narrow enough for me, and added the short reach brifters a year after I got it. Am I a racer? No, not by any stretch. I like the bike and I could afford it. But I think you can get a really nice road bike for around 2500, and have most of what anyone would want.