Originally Posted by linberl

You will never regret having a lighter bike. And in a year or two you won't think about the money spent. Every single time I have "cheaped out" on something in the beginning, I've ended up wishing I had done it right in the first place. Have you ever experienced that? If you get what you really want you'll be happier. Save the upgrading for gearing and the like. Get the basic frame you want now; it will be less expensive than upgrading the frame later on (prices go up, labor goes up, etc.). Unless you don't have the $ now, in that case, get what you can afford and save up to make the changes later.