For $7000 you would be nuts to buy a complete bike. If you are spending that much you should really know your stuff and know what fits. I would be going custom all the way starting with the frame and fork. I still would not end up spending near $7k. You just don't gain enough performance from the bike in my mind to justify spending much more than $4000ish. That's me though. There are so many choices. I would look at Strong, Calfee, Kirk, Moots, Rock Lobster, Steelman, and on and on. I own a Steelman and love it, I bought it ten years ago and won't ever get rid of it. Simply awesome bike. It's steel, and when I picked it up it cost about half what he is charging today. One of my customers has a Paul Sadoff/Rock Lobster that is just as detailed and Paul is charging $1200 to start for a custom, which is more reasonable for a very similar quality product. Same with Strong $1500 for a steel. If you want carbon I like Calfee, very beautiful, IMO and time tested builder.
But, if you hate research and like impulse shopping for big ticket items and want what the marketers say is the bestest go with the Specialized, they are cooler.
