I picked up most of the parts to rebuild my bike.

• Deore square taper crankset, 175mm - my old one has the pedals seized, can't get them off. I was going to replace it with a splined model, but I broke the cup on the bottom bracket set while trying to remove it [very, very seized!], so I'm just going to use a square taper model on the old BB axle. The axle's taper is ruined, but I've been getting by with a "coke can shim" so hopefully that'll continue to work for me. I tried to get the LX model but they were all out and the only other sets they had were Race Face for about twice the price. Too rich for me!


• New pedals - some Shimano model, they're SPD's with a cage. I'd rather not have the cage but I can't see how to take them off.


• Deore XT front and rear deraillers - my old rear derailler is semi-seized, the pulley wheel is trashed and nobody seems to have the proper replacement for it so I picked up a whole new derailler. Finally, after basically running on a single gear for the past year. My old front derailler never fit on my new frame, the tubing was too big around, so this will be the first time I've had a front derailler on this frame. W00t! More gears!


• New seat - same as the old one, cheapo model that seems to last as long if not longer than any expensive model I've purchased.


• New ODI grips - uses the lock-ring system, which is great, keeps your grips solidly positioned on the handlebars, once you've had these things you'll never go back to regular grips.


• New chain and freewheel block - all new parts for my drivetrain, which was what prompted me to do this upgrade in the first place as my old drivetrain was starting to get some rank skippage.


• New Deore LX shifters - I actually wanted the XT's but they didn't have any without the integrated brake levers [which I hate!]. My old XT's are broken, they don't 'click' anymore. I'm hoping I can fix them somehow, this is the second pair of XT shifters I've had fail on me like this.


• New brake pads, cable housing etc. - usual bike shit.

So I've got all the parts ready, I just have to disassemble the beast and reassemble it with all the new parts, tomorrow's project. Total damage, almost $600.00! Hopefully I won't have to do this again for awhile! At least it's all tax deductible.