Thanks again for all of the info. I think to start I'll go to the shop and get a complete bike. Based on what I have heard here, and found in a days worth of net surfing, building a bike takes more knowledge of the sport.
I am a machinist so the work and mechanical stuff wouldn't be a problem. But I still don't know what a headset is.
Thanks for the link. I know where that is. I'll stop in this week and see what they have. I didn't want to just walk into a bike shop not knowing anything. I've seen what can happen to a guy and his wallet when he decides he wants to learn how to fly fish.