Nothing wrong with punishing workouts- I try to get a 5 on garmin training effects at least once a week. Thanks for the advice MDS, $1,000 is probably the point where my wife will start giving a crap. Still hoping something in the 1,200 range drops with post labor day sales
If I were you I'd buy used and just get a good overhaul once the original components wear out. No idea how tall you are or what your inseam is, but just a quick look on CL and I found a number of deals:
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/5660209692.html (Surly Cross Check, great steel frame)
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bid/5646455360.html (Surly Pacer, smaller frame but a great deal)
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/5662873767.html (Surly Long Haul trucker, great all around bike)
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/5618452509.html (Surly Ogre, this is my touring bike, GREAT bike for touring, probably not what you're looking for)
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/5637256354.html (Another Cross Check)
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/5623172860.html (Trek 520, steel and great for touring and commuting)
As much as I love Surly (and QBP) there are a number of other mid-level steel makers out there offering really good deals. I don't like SRAM groupsets (the shifting is really bad) but this is a steal for a disc steel touring/commuting rig:
http://fairdalebikes.com/bikes/2016-weekender-drop/ If you don't want steel you can probably find any number of "weekend warrior" Trek or Specialized (or GT/Giant/Motobecane) road bikes on CL for less than $700, which would probably be perfect for you. I don't care for aluminum (too flexy) but you could probably get a good deal on a mid-level road bike that someone bought and used a few times that wouldn't need more than a tune up to be road ready.
One thing you really don't want to go cheap on is the helmet. A lot of people don't listen to me on this and then tell me "I just rode a metric (63 miles) and my neck hurts, what happened?" Well, you're wearing a heavy, hot, cheap, and uncomfortable helmet like I told you not to dipcrap. I don't buy anything Specialized makes but they do make a really good helmet (the Prevail, $200,
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/helmets/sworks-prevail/105346) which is the standard for most road cyclists, as much as I LOATHE them they do have a good trade in policy if you crash, so that is one thing I'll give them. I had a Prevail and didn't care for the fit so I switched over to the Giro Atmos (
http://www.giro.com/us_en/atmos-ii-18.html) which is just a little heavier but much cheaper (~$120) and fit my head better. Again, if you're going to be doing a lot of riding you definitely don't want to be in any pain or feeling uncomfortable and a heavy, hot helmet is both.
I don't drive or drink or really spend money on anything other than cycling and bad baseball so here are a couple of lists you might find helpful.
Things you can (and should go cheap on):
Cassettes (they wear out so no reason to go nuts)
Bar tape (ibid, I use the really cheap SRAM cork)
Bottom brackets (ibid, I use $30 Shimanos whenever I can)
Chains (ibid, I use an expensive Ti chain on my winter bike but that's only because it keeps the salt off)
Jerseys (if you're not big you can find these CHEAP)
Snacks (I only eat almonds on rides now, trail mix is the best)
Pedals (they wear out here after 5,000 miles, YMMV)
Brakes (you aren't Peter Sagan so cheap is fine until you're cranking out 10,000 miles a year)
Fenders (most are plastic disposable junk unless you go with the $100 metal versions)
Water bottles (I lose one a week so I just buy the cancerous stuff from China in bulk)
Things you should NOT go cheap on:
Seatposts (cheap ones snap and anally impale you, good ones bend, Thomson Elite is $100 and allows for a perfect fit)
Saddles (easily the most frustrating piece of cycling equipment to find)
Stems (go cheap if you don't like your teeth)
Tires (cheap ones are a rough ride and have very little puncture resistance)
Helmet (detailed above)
Sunglasses/eye protection (you only get one set of eyes)
Things to buy when you get a bike (almost all of this is available for dirt cheap on Amazon):
Helmet (~$120)
Sunglasses (I use Tifosi's with interchangable lenses, $60)
Bike computer (Strava on the iPhone/Android is fine)
Quad Lock (best $60 I've spent in years)
Park bike lube ($6 tube should last years, be sure to lube everything up you put on the bike, you could also use Marine grease)
Bike fitting (best $100-300 you'll ever spend)
Some form of chamois cream (DZ Nuts or Gooch Guard are great and cheap)
Chamois shorts ($20-$200, I use Canari gel shorts which are $45 a pair)
Water bottle and cages (go cheap)
Patch kit (CO2, tubes, patches, tire levers, saddle bag)
Map of local rides from of MUT terrorists and tourons (Spokes has this and it's like $15)