Road Cycling - Frame or components

I am looking at a road bike (have a mountain bike now) and am on a limited budget.

Should I get a better frame or better components?

For example I have looked at the lbs and found a Giant and a Cannondales around the same price. The lbs employee says that the Cannondale has a better frame but the giant for the same price has better components.

Which should I look at better frame or components?

frame frame frame!!!

I agree with the previous post. The frame is by far the most important part of the bike. Go with the frame you like the best. You can always upgrade the components. Keep in mind, even the best components will need to be replaced before the frame gives out.

Cannondale makes awesome frames!

Add my vote to the frame.

While I generally agree with the above, one qualification: not every frame is a keeper, and not every frame is worthy of extensive upgrading. If these are entry-level bikes, there's a fair chance that you'll end up replacing the whole bike (or relegating it to backup or "beater" status) when you can afford to, rather than upgrading components.

Which Giant and which Cannondale? AFAIK, Cannondale's cheapest road bike is a couple of hundred dollars more than Giant's.

RichC

Maybe I'm out of touch with the common man, but, I think the components should have some significant weight in this decision.

What exactly are we talking about here. Which frame model with which gruppo and the cost for each.

Lets talk apples and apples.