New frame from a previous year - good idea or not?

[Becky]

Absolutely, it's a great idea! I bought my carbon Fuji that way. It was 2009, they stopped making them in 2008, sold out of my size in the 2008, but there was a 2007 with a nearly-identical spec sitting in a warehouse. Never been unpacked, built, nothing....winner!

I prefer building my own bikes from the frame up. That way, I get to spec every single part to exactly my needs. No take-offs, upgrades, nothing....just my perfect bike. I enjoy the wrenching part too

If it were me, I'd go to the shop sometime when you know they won't be busy (not Saturday ), and have a good chat with your favorite mechanic or mech-savvy salesperson about parts that fit your budget and riding style. Maybe even ride a few bikes with different parts just to see what you like, especially if you don't already have some strong preferences for certain components.

As for wheels, I like reliable handbuilts....no bling, but durable, light, and easy to get replacement spokes for. Proprietary spokes make me batty.

Have fun with it!!

[Biciclista]

3 years ago Cannondale was making great bikes! OLD bikes are GOOD. Enjoy!!! I hope they gave you a good deal too.

After you get it; we want PHOTOS! of course.

[indysteel]

Absolutely, it's a great idea! I bought my carbon Fuji that way. It was 2009, they stopped making them in 2008, sold out of my size in the 2008, but there was a 2007 with a nearly-identical spec sitting in a warehouse. Never been unpacked, built, nothing....winner!

I prefer building my own bikes from the frame up. That way, I get to spec every single part to exactly my needs. No take-offs, upgrades, nothing....just my perfect bike. I enjoy the wrenching part too

If it were me, I'd go to the shop sometime when you know they won't be busy (not Saturday ), and have a good chat with your favorite mechanic or mech-savvy salesperson about parts that fit your budget and riding style. Maybe even ride a few bikes with different parts just to see what you like, especially if you don't already have some strong preferences for certain components.

As for wheels, I like reliable handbuilts....no bling, but durable, light, and easy to get replacement spokes for. Proprietary spokes make me batty.

Have fun with it!!

What Becky said. I'd also suggest getting the geometry specs for the bike just to make sure that it's comparable to what you've already ridden (the 54 men's version). I would try to get a preliminary quote on the build from the shop to make sure it's within your budget. You can tweak it later, but at least get a good ballpark figure first, as there can be a bit of sticker shock when you add it all up. I'd second the suggestion for a decent pair of handbuilts. That's what I have. Nothing too blingy; just a nice quality build.

[redrhodie]

Sounds great to me! You get exactly what you wanted, in the color you wanted, and it's a deal! The hard part will be waiting for it to be built.

[Catrin]

Sounds like the best of all possible worlds to me! I second the idea of getting a solid quote from your LBS on the parts build, these things tend to have their way of winding up more expensive than we anticipate...as I have recently been reminded... (not that I am complaining, just my original estimate was unrealistic).

[Owlie]

Sounds like a good plan to me! I'll second what everyone else said in terms of double-checking the geometry and getting a quote on the build price.

[emily_in_nc]

+1

I did this. I bought an unbuilt but 3-year old Aegis Swift carbon frame and fork on ebay from a small California bike shop for a song. It was a small frame (46cm) in a purply/raspberry color so just never sold. It was gorgeous.

I had it built into my dream bike with Campy Chorus, FSA carbon cranks, compact double (when compacts were just coming out -- this was 2004), etc etc. Even found lovely bar tape that matched the frame perfectly (now a discontinued color - Cinelli "Bordeaux").

As others have noted, it was costly. More costly than I originally anticipated and budgeted for (mostly because of the Campy Chorus, but oh, it shifted like buttah!). But I loved the bike and put many happy miles on her prior to my accident (fractured pelvis) in 2005 that curtailed my riding for quite awhile.

There's no reason, so long as the frame fits, that you shouldn't do this. It's actually a lot of fun to pick out the components for your bike to get it just the way you want it, and you end up with almost a custom bike (just minus the custom frame). Frames definitely don't go bad!

Have fun and keep us posted -- and by the way, I love the colors of the frame!