Road Cycling - Buying a Litespeed Vortex - need opinions on components

I've narrowed down my choices to a Litespeed Vortex (favored) and Cannondale Six13. I prefer the DuraAce on each. I am able to buy each at nearly the same price. What I would like are your opinions - really validation - on selecting the Litespeed for 200-250 miles a week for a fairly aggressive hill rider in SoCal. Second, I'm unfamiliar with the wheelset that comes with the Litespeed (DuraAce hubs with Mavic Open Pro rims) and would like to know if it's worth upgrading to an all DuraAce wheel (rim) or are there better alternatives for a 150 lb rider looking for durability. I'm also considering changing the Ritchey stem and handlebar to an FSA LHAB carbon bar with stem.

Of course, I greatly appreciate your opinions. Thanks in advance!

For a bike of that caliber, do not hesitate to upgrade to any top wheelset. You're light, so you won't have the issues of durability with your wheels. On the mid-price side, I think it's hard to be Velomax. They make excellent wheels and their Ascent model maybe right up your alley. I recent triathlon in a very hilly part of FL (yes we do have some pretty big hills) had a lot of athletes equipped with Velomax. Of course there's ZIPP, Reynolds, HED and others... all of which your bike is worthy of.

Where are you getting it from,the litespeed? I'm in lakewood and looking at getting a litespeed but no shops selling them around here. www.bikesmart.com has some pretty good prices.

Thanks ItsChris. I've decided to go DuraAce on the suggestion of the LBS.

Shokhead: I ended up buying at Helens in the Marina. I would suggest talking to Scott at Helens in the Marina (310.306.7843), because you should really take a fitting first - if you haven't yet done so. We ruled out a few bikes after spending a few hours on the fit bike, and after riding the Six13 (very nice) and the Vortex, I figured Litespeed was the way to go. Scott will work with you on price. Btw, no affiliation, blah blah blah. His price was significantly less than Bikesdirect.com, but I got a fitting, discount on shoes and pedals, an exit-fitting, and future service. Ultimately it wasn't really a tought decision. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Hopefully, I'll pick up the bike tomorrow.

I have an odd idea, why not use the Open Pros as your training wheels, since these wheels are very reliable and the failure rate is very low, plus if by chance you were to lose a spoke you could still ride the bike home with nothing more then maybe adjusting the spokes so the rim won't rub the brakes. Then use the Dura Ace wheel (or some other wheel you might choose) for a racing wheel. Racing wheels have fewer spokes and are high tensioned, so that if by chance you break a spoke the wheel will not allow you to ride it home, in fact it will probably taco the wheel.