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I want a carbon (maybe steel??) cross bike with disk breaks (to be used for all around, get down and dirty, commute in the rain/slush/etc... going on muddy/rough trails).
Should I try to find one pre-made or would it be worth buying the separate components and putting them all together? Would building save me money? Some of the bikes I am looking at are far beyond my price range and they don't have the disk breaks so I'd have to spend even more money on those! :eek:
2012 Redline Conquest Pro Carbon with disc brakes. Buy it fully assembled or as a frameset. It's always cheaper to get the whole package pre-built.
Unless you can find a great deal on a used frame or steal parts from a bike you already have or a used parts bike or great deals on components - it's usually cheaper to just buy a whole bike new.
If you build it yourself, you have the pleasure of having exactly what you want at the level of componentry that you want, and probably you'll end up with a higher end bike all around... but you may not be saving money.
The wheels on a pre-built bike are probably cheaper wheels than what you'd get yourself. Probably the disc brakes'll be heavier than what you'd pick...
Definitely check the prices. I built my all carbon Cannondale Synapse from the frame up and it ended up being a little bit cheaper than getting one out of the box. The frame was a 2008, never built, brand new one, sitting around at their factory that my LBS special ordered for me. And I helped my mechanic put the bike together so I didn't get any labor charges. A 2011 Synapse Ultegra will run you about 3100, but it doesn't have carbon handlebars, seat post or good wheels. For the 3100 I got the box bike plus better wheels (mavic ksyrium elite) and zipp bars/seat post in carbon.
Hang around your LBS. They are pretty willing to work with people they know. I'm pretty sure buying pizza for everyone on the day of my bike build helped too ;)
Generally speaking, if saving money is the goal, buy a complete bike. If the goal to have every part be exactly what you want, build it.
I've developed enough parts preferences over the years that I prefer to build whenever possible... Besides, putting your own bike together is fun! :)
Ruby - that's really odd I've been looking for something like u r talking about but I definitely want steel. Look at my post "new commuter" and you'll see what I mean. Only thing stinks is selling my old commuter. I love that bike but apparently the nerves in my right shoulder do not :( Good luck on ur search.
I'd be inclined to say that if you can find what you want in a ready-to-buy bike, buy it. If you can't, then go ahead and build one if you have money to burn.