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Back to ebay and this time for a handlebar and stem. Probably didn’t need carbon or the  expense that goes with it.

Bontrager Race XXX Lite Riser handlebar Carbon $66
Width: 620 mm, 7 degree bend, 40mm rise, Clamp: 31.8 mm, 145g

Ritchey WCS 4-Axis Matrix Carbon Road MTB Stem $30
Fork clamp: 28.6mm, Material: Carbon+aluminum, Handlebar clamp: 31.8mm,
Length: 90mm, Angle: 7, Weight: 155g

Next on the list was a groupset and breaks after looking around I found I could get XT for about $30 more than LX. I picked up this set on ebay for about $760.

XT Crankset XT FC-M770 44/32/22T (170mm or 175mm), Bottom bracket 68mm or 73mm compatible and spacers included
XT Shifters SL-M770  with Cables included, LEFT and RIGHT
XT Top Normal Rear Derailleur RD-M771-SGS or RD-M771-GS or RD-M772-SGS (Shadow) or RD-M772-GS (Shadow)
XT  Front Derailleur FD-M771 Down swing or M770 Top swing
XT Cassette CS-M770 9-speed 11-34T or 11-32T
XT Hydraulic Disc brake set BR-M775/BL-M775, complete set, ready to be installed on your bike,  ROTORS not included
XTR Chain CN-7701, 9 speed

The goodies turned up in short order, The seat and peddles I already had to put on the cell hardtail but just had not done it yet so they can go on the new bike. they were $27 and $44 respectively.

As my hard tail is not fixed yet and the new soft tail is some way off. I was still on a loaner.

This time it was a Banshee hard tail MTB and I managed to hit a rock on the trail and wrapped the dérailleur around the rear cluster. and ripped the valve off at the rim, with out a spare tube or chain breaker this time it was a carry out job and wait to be picked up in a car.  Carl casts his own carbon fiber rear  dérailleur hangers as they have a tendency to “let go” rather then mangle like a cast Al one. With no spares in stock it was time to make some more.

We had silicon molds for a number of hangers including one for the Banshee and the Cell MX-2. Here is a picture of the hanger in the mold.

I found a Tank T-works frame in Taiwan for about $740 described as…

“Tank T-Works is an excellent value 4″ travel light XC frame. It utilises a Turner 4-bar suspension design, just like Turner, Kona and some Banshee bikes.

The main pivot is concentric with the bottom bracket, enhancing lateral stiffness and eliminating chain growth. Full length (interrupted, but unobstructed) seat tube allows extensive seat height adjustment.

Hydroformed tubing and CNC frame elements result in an astonishingly light frame weight of just 2.2 kg including the rear shock!”

In short order it arrived neatly packed.

Next for forks I picked up a set of FOX “32 Talas 2009 150R” off eBay for $415. Here they are together.

After a couple of weeks riding at Lake Parramatta I have managed rip the rear dérailleur off my hard tail MTB. Here is Carl on the track shortening the chain to make it a single speed for a slightly easier trip back to the car park.

We swapped bikes for the ride back so I got to ride a 555 soft tail MTB the difference was little sort of amazing. This started me on the path of putting together a soft tail MTB of my own. With the hope of keeping the cost down by purchasing the parts and assembling it myself, with help of course.