chelboed, I do like the Vanilla R and it is a cushy fork but I hate the weight of it on the front end of the bicycle. Are you saying the SID will be a little twitchy? The bike is already twitchy enough so I wouldn't want to compromise that.

I'm not interested in going SS or even compact double.

Is there enough weight savings in a saddle and pedals to justify it? I can't imagine more than 100 grams on each. For the $200+ I'd spend that's a tough pill to swallow. Crankset going to be worth it?

It's getting to the point where anything significant is looking to be big bucks.