With the dissertation draft finished... things are slowly coming to a close which means only one thing... fewer days till a new bike! Might be able to swing it later this summer, however, next spring might be a better estimate depending on the cost which is TBD and other expenses (graduation ain't cheap!). To summarize, I would rather wait if saving a bit more = much better build.
Tentative details
Frame/Fork: Salsa Vaya... and probably stick with their stuff for the stem/bars/headset.
Brakes: Avid BB7 Disc
Drivetrain...?
Any personal opinions on SRAM vs. Shimano? Looking at perhaps Apex/rival from SRAM or 105/Ultegra. If Apex is adequate, I'd probably just go with the Salsa build which includes these components... when plunking down a wad of cash, however, it seems more fun to spec it out yourself and at least build it a bit better.
Saddle? Are Brooks that awesome? Many seem to swear by them...
Wheels: Haven't gotten to this bridge yet, but I'll probably opt for getting a second (lighter) set for thinner tires and strictly on-road adventures.
You have a couple of things to consider.
1. In terms of sram vs. shimano. There's no question that Sram caught Shimano with their pants down. And if you do a search on here, you'll find a thread specifically dedicated to why Dura-Ace 7900 is completely pointless. THOUGH, that's not really your market... but you should be aware that it tends to trickle down.
Knowing that, the things you should be looking at are price to weight/functionality. If Sram Apex is adequate for your needs, (which I'm sure I could guess because you post enough, but I don't believe you've specified) then I would consider it, as I, as well as nearly everyone on the team is currently riding Sram for a reason. However, you'll also notice if you search for this topic, that I rode and RACED a 105 9-speed gruppo for like 7 years or something and it was excellent. It was well taken care of, but it was fully utilized and expected to perform in all cases in all conditions, and it did so flawlessly or with very little complaining. So I would personally give 105 a hard look as well. Moving into the rival vs. Ultegra though... I think I'd say go Sram.
To add to all of that, the next big thing to consider is how the ergonomics are. This... in all honesty is one of the biggest factors in any bike shop selling any specific brand of groupset with any bicycle. I can sell Campy, or Sram, or Shimano, or damn... even Suntour to anyone. But if it doesn't "feel good" then they won't like it, and thats a bad bike fit (and a part of the fit often overlooked). So GO to a bicycle shop and TRY some of the componentry, and FEEL how it fits in your hand, and know what adjustments can and can not be made (most have reach adjustments now).
2. The only people that "swear by" any type of saddle are dolts. A saddle that fits me might not fit you, and even if it does, it might not feel as good. I DO in fact own (I think 3 brooks saddles now? (its a long story)) and I do enjoy at least 2 of them (though I haven't ridden the 3rd yet). But a saddle is a very specific thing. I would highly recommend having your ischial tuberosities measured (your sit bones) and that you read this article on seats and saddles.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html3. Wheels. Things to consider with wheels are certainly weight and aerodynamics. In ND for on road riding, aeroD is almost ALWAYS going to trump weight. If you shrink the frontal area of a frameset by 4%, that's equivalent to dropping almost an 800 gram weight off of the whole bike. And in ND, there aren't any hills, so there's no real reason to care too much about weight unless you're going to be doing a dedicated sprinter role in a race.
Next, and forgive me if I'm wrong or out of line, but I think I remember you being a Clydesdale rider. If that's the case you should look at wheels that are specific for that. TBPH though, I think I would recommend riding with the wheels that you have until the lust of the bicycle wears off, and then get some wheels (maybe towards the end of the season) off of ebay, because you'll see TONS of crazy deals from sponsored riders off loading their seasons haul.
Lastly, for training, resistance is good. For racing, resistance is bad. So if you're just going to be cruising around doing training, having extra weight/drag/friction isn't bad... it's good, it just sucks. But in terms of comfort, you may want to consider running a 25mm tire on your wheels instead of the "standard" 23mm tires. That will help provide more cushioning while you get used to your seat.
Oh... and if you get a brooks or any raw leather saddle. The proofide goes on the BOTTOM UNFINISHED surface of the saddle. Not on the top part. ie... the leather treatment should never touch your butt.
Please ask if you have other questions, or need any clarification.