Originally Posted by
jimc101
If you are going to spend all that money, why not just get a new bike, you will get a bike with warranty, and no compatibility issues, Bikesdirect will pointed out as a good place to get good value full builds.
Thinking with your seize / weight, you should be looking at a 29er, with front suspension, a CX bike has drop bars, which will be harder to use if you do ever go off road, and get some semi slick tires for it.
A LBS should be able to do a parts build, but would probably put a big premium on it.
a new CX bike is probably going to cost me well over $1000. Bikes direct has some options that look promising for around $800 give or take, but then I need to change the tires at around $60 a piece, and I don't think the wheels are as good as the ones that I picked out (and at 225 pounds, I will probably be looking at replacement wheels in a year)
the two bikes that I really like are the Surly Cross Check and the Surly LHT, both come essentially as kit bikes, but the frame set for either runs around $400. That would add to my cost.