Originally Posted by
CliffordK
Anyway, I'd go for a $1K used CF bike before buying a basic Aluminum sporting goods store quality bike. They just don't seem that impressive to me.
I did just that a few years ago--a three-year old Specialized Roubaix Sl2 105 for well under $1K. Like you I like building up from the frame, especially since I've got parts lying around, but I'm always on the lookout for good deals on whole bikes.