I sort of think doing a custom build in a middle to lower middle bike like the CC is kind of expensive as a percentage. There are a LOT of bikes in this price range that come nicely equipped. Look around and talk to all the LBS's near you. The cost to put together a cheap bike or an expensive bike is not much different so you bear a higher percentage of the cost on a cheaper bike/component group at the lower end.

The crankset looks a little strange to me - 53/39, really? I'd think something closer to 50-34 (compact crankset) or some of the more traditional cross gearing might be more interesting if you are going to do cyclocross. Also, you don't really say what sort of gearing you were interested in and what that might be on the back.

J.