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

[feral1]

My husband got me a Storck frame a couple years ago and we finally built it up the way I wanted. I don't think I will ever buy another mass produced bike. It was fun (frustrating at times too) finding all the parts to match my baby Just remember Ebay is your friend Have fun with it!!

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!!