Complete bike or frame?

Hi there!
I'm new to the forum. Actually I'm pretty green when it comes to all things cycling. I have lots of questions but I'll start with this. Which should I buy when I figure out what I want: a complete bike with factory components or a frame? I'm thinking about getting either the surly LHT or the surly Cross check but that's a whole other post, I think. But there is not one bike shop with 200 miles of me (at least that I know of) that carries surly so it's not like I can go out and test ride one or even check out the frames. I've heard lots of good things about surly and like the idea of the steel frame. Especially since I'm planning on going a little bit of everywhere. Any comments or opinions?
Thanks,
Gray

Steel is great and either the LHT or CrossCheck would be a great all around type bike.

Generally, it is cheaper to buy a complete bike. Jenson USA sells Surly bikes. The CrossCheck frameset (frame+fork) runs $400, while a complete bike is $930. It would be hard to buy a new groupo+wheels+headset for $500. The advantage to building the bike up is that you get to get everything just the way you want it. Since you're a newbie, though, you probably don't really have an idea of what you want.

As ilima said - you get a BIG break on the price when you buy a complete bike over frame only, then buying components separate. Unless you already have parts or have a good source for used ones get the complete bike.

The complete bike will be cheaper, but you need to look at what you would end up replacing. I bought a cross check which was built up from the frame, and it just happened to be 1) my size and 2) the components I would have chosen. Ebay may be another place to keep an eye on - these are popular enough bikes that there will be some for sale. If you ride a smaller sized frame, the cross check will have 700c wheels, and the LHT will be 26". That would make a difference for me.

CA

Thank you all for your advice and taking the time to give it. I was already leaning toward the complete bike, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. I don't understand a lot of the terminology yet so forgive me if this sounds stupid or naive, but what are the gears like on the Cross Check and the LHT complete bikes? I don't know that I'd use it, but the terrain I have to contend with most often is very hilly and the terrain on the ride I plan on doing is way hilly! I don't think that I'll need quite the granny gear that I've got on my mountain bike but I'd like to know that if I'm having an off day and utterly pooped that I could get up a hill without having to push? does that make any sense at all? I have no idea what kind of gears are on my mountain bike but I do know that I never changed them so they are whatever Giant had on them when they sold it.
Thanks again everyone, I'm sure I'll have lots more questions.
Gray

The complete LHT comes with a triple and a juicy granny on the rear cassette.

The complete CC comes with a double and a less juicy granny on the rear.

Adding a 3rd chainring to the CC costs about $19 for the ring and whatever your LBS decides to charge you for labor to put it on. (my LBS did it for free). If the cassette doesn't get you a low enough gear, that can be changed out, too.

Nice thing about Surly bikes is that there is a large enough Surly cult that you wouldn't have any problem selling a Surly, if you decided after all that you really wanted the Trek or Specialized your local Trek/Specialized shop wants you to buy. (I'm responding to your question on your other thread.)

This will let you put in the wheel size, gears (from the specs off Surly's website), and get the gear inches. http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/ The lower the bottom number, the easier it is to pedal. The higher the top number, the faster you can pedal downhill.

CA