I've been thinking for awhile about building a fixed-gear that I can use on the track and I've read lots of old bikeforums posts and many of Sheldon's articles. Then I actually compared prices and this is what I got...

Mercier kilo tt: 350

or

entry-level track frame + fork: 200+
wheels: 150
everything else: 220+ (and this is with the cheapest parts--BB, cranks, stem, handlebars, etc.--and the best prices online, too)
total: 570+

I was surprised that building everything up myself would be a lot more expensive than buying a complete bike, even with the cheapest parts. I know lots of people put better components on the complete bikes that they buy, and I don't yet know how much of that I'll do.

what do you guys think?