14bikeco custom bike

Rubbish, that depends how you build it, my bike cost just over a grand and its about as tough as you can get for a track bike, i've smacked it around like a cheap ho, hit a white van, and crashed it doing tricks more times than I can count, and the only thing I ever broke was a few sets of pedals (before I learnt my lesson and stopped buying plastic).
Personally, I would say spend what you want on your bike, you will never regret getting an expensive bike as long as it is designed for the purpose you have in mind. The last time I had a shit bike was when I was 11, maybe 12 my memories not that good.....lots of drug and alcohol abuse over the years....anyway I digress, just go for it, it hasn't got to be from 14, or from any other specialist retailer, it can be built by yourself or a fellow forum member....or whatever...
The satisfaction you get from owning a bike that was completely specified by you from the ground up is second to none, just do it.

A wonderfully direct and (not so) poetic complete dismissal of some really rather valuable advice on my behalf. Thanks Crazy... erm... whatever.

There may have been a +1 to your post but I can very much promise you there are a very large number of extremely competent, well versed and seasoned riders on this forum who would wholeheartedly agree with me.

Ask people who know the ongoing saga of me and my bike; my build was maybe over 800, and yes a wonderful machine she is. One of the lightest commuters on the forum (by no means do I claim to be the lightest) even with a heavy Rolls Saddle and heavy rear wheel (now anyway), fillet welding that brought my mother to tears even tho she knows nothing. I want not to list specs but I'm extremely proud of her.

The lightweight competition tubing has seen far better days (dents which can only be put down to drunken escapades, paint chips/scraps/chunks gone from 'incidents) and yes, they CAN be repaired at expense and re-painted. But the real problem comes down to components.

I don't know what CrazyJames' ride is, but a highly focused track frame made by a very decent frame builder (again I'm talking track specific rather than a NYC/etc frame) will suffer over abuse. But my components have been the general downfall of my bike, and I'm talking a Suzue Pro Max rear hub which gave up on me. A KMC gold (45quid) chain gave up on me, 3 times now. A Nitto RB021 pair of beautiful bullhorns, again, gave up on me (now sported as perhaps the most opinion-splitting shorts). A Campag RECORD front brake... erm, well didn't so much give up on me rather than BLEW up on me...

The Mavic open Pros my wheels were built from are about as straight as George Micheal. The drilled (not sure what it is, but v.expensive) 50T chainring I have is like Boy George. I've had to change the Campag Veloce Headset twice. I won't carry on (more because thats it rather than the idea that I maybe concerned about boring you). The last few weeks on the bike have been a living hell. Things have been changed, but there is always something else that has been affected by the dodgy component I've continued to ride knowing it needs replacin. and this just seems to go on and on. I'm hoping a new chain ring will be the final chapter in this Steven King episode.

Anyway. Back to the point. By no means am I dismissing CrazyJames' opinion, I agree wholeheartedly with it to a point. To ride out on a new build which you created, which people appreciate and you agrandise is possibly one of 'those' life moments. But all I say is, if you don't know enough to know what your buiding at first it will be an uphill struggle of incorrectly spaced rear wheels, wrong size bottom brackets, 1" instead of 1"1/8 aheadsets, or was that a threaded headset? Etc, etc.

Genuinly I would take the OTP for the winter. Even if you do create your own fantastic build (which I do hope you do) the pain you'll experience after getting to work the first/second/third day in rain/sleet/snow when you look at it and see it looking NOTHING like it did in your flat/house and realise that unless you spend everyday cleaning her she'll simply not look really sweet when you get to drinks to show her off. I always feel disappionted with the Omega when I look at her from a distance during the winter (but not really).

Anyway. Talking value for money, get your Alpha built for the spring and have a beautiful bike for the whole summer, use an OTP for the winter, and hey by Spring time it could become your polo bike!;)

the omega is booked in for frame maintenance and respray in April and WILL be the hottest thing out there next summer.

...here come the flames! AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!1