help with road bike question?

The differences are not enough to make enough of a difference for a beginner in my opinion. This is also why you can usually find great road bikes on Craig's list for little money...so many beginners buy something they end up not using. Good luck and I hope you stick with it.

if you're a beginner, you can buy a more expensive bike, but the more basic bikes will be just as good for you. I'd suggest getting a lower-level model from a bike shop (not from walmart or target or a sporting goods store)

You can buy any bike you want, they all ride the same. The more expensive ones will be liter and have better components but that is about it. If you are use to department store bikes you will notice the difference right away.

Any road bike will do. Aluminum frames are cheaper than carbon, and require less assembly skill. Stay with metal handlbars and seat posts, though carbon front forks are becoming common.

The bike brand is unimportant, really , It is the components that make for an excellent introductory experience.

Choice Components include:

Shimano Sora,Tiagra,105,Ultegra,or Dura-Ace
Any SRAM road stuff
Any Campagnolo stuff

Try for a Compact Double Crankset unless you are in a mountainous region where a Triple Crank is better.

The main thing is to get

1. Good assembly.

2. Good fit.

If you are not good with tools, I would caution against mail order. I would also caution against stores like WalMart and Target, simply because their assembly is done by the same guys who assemble store displays ... I worked for both of them at various times ... sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you dont.

Find a bike shop. Any bike shop. The worst is better at fit and assembly than the best department store. Yes, you will pay 30 bucks more. Maybe 50 bucks. But remember, your co-payment in the emergency room will probably be at least 200 bucks if the wheel falls off or the handle bars slip.