A perfect race bike (IMO): all/mostly used parts, a good quality common aluminum frameset, take-off OEM wheels that regularly go for about $100. on CL and splurge on the tires, tubes, brake pads and cockpit (all aluminum).

I've been looking into building up a CAAD9 for riding on bad days; Something with a full 105 group and the take-off parts I have laying around or that I could pick upon on CL. I can't see why a nice solid 17lb racer can't be put together for <$1,000. with very good bits. Even if crashed, as long as the frameset is okay, it could be put back together in a matter of hours and be ready for the next day's race with relatively little monies.

Road Racing? Now that's a different beast as I understand it. "There" I'd like to have
a nice carbon rig with much better components that I'd probably benefit more from.