fatoldtrackguy

Hello,

I raced a lot in the 1980s. Mostly track and crits in the NE. Now I'm thinking of trying cyclocross. I was joking with some friends the other day that this would have been easier 10 years ago. Now there seem to be so many choices within the cyclocross bike options. I'm not looking for particular bike recommendations necessarily, but I'm interested in people's thoughts on the following choices. (I have a budget of $2,000 to $3,000. I've surveyed all the big name manufacturers for ideas: Cannondale, Focus, Giant, Ridley, Trek, Jamis, Fiji, Blue, Masi.)

Buy frame and build up vs. buy a complete bike
Buy lower priced bike (<$2,000) and a nice set of race wheels vs. buy a nicer bike and use the stock equipment for racing

If buying a complete bike, there are several choices. For under $3,000, you can get 2 or 3, but not all 4. Ideas?
Thru axles?
Mechanical vs. hydraulic?
2 x 11 vs. 1 x 11?
tubes vs. tubeless vs. tubulars? (tubulars would drive me back to the lower priced bike with separate wheels choice)

Thanks in advance for your opinions,
-kpb2