Morning all,

Wondering what your thoughts were on this - I am looking to buy a new bike, full carbon. I test rode (45 miles) a men's Cannondale Synapse 54cm and really liked the feel of it with the more upright position and the carbon was a dream - a much better ride than my current bike. This year's colors for that bike in the WSD is sort of a dark blue and teal color, but I have been secretly wanting a black and hot pink bike (is this ridiculous or what?!). Now, my LBS contacted the Cannondale folks yesterday and they have a 2008 women's synapse frame and fork sitting in the warehouse that has never been ridden or even built into a bike and they can get me a good deal on it, and it's black and pink. I don't really care if it's a 3 year old frame since it's essentially brand new - but I was wondering if you guys thought this was a good idea? I would then purchase all the parts for it separately and built it from frame up. The LBS thinks I can do it reasonably for 2500 depending on the components (thinking of going with either 105s or ultegra) and such.

The frame looks like this:


Building your own bike from scratch because you want a specific color - good idea or bad? I liked the men's frame from this year and I am not sure how it compares to the women's 2008, but I don't see why there would be a huge difference. If there is, of course let me know!

What are the challenges in building your own bike? I guess I wouldn't actually be doing the building myself, just purchasing the components, but I have no experience in buying an "incomplete" bike.

And, any suggestions for reasonable wheelsets? Something less than those $1400 zipp wheels, but something worthy of a carbon frame?

Thanks in advance!!