Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Wicked frame btw. And yes. Mix of new and 2nd hand. I generally prefer the stuff like bars stem saddle and seatpost to be new. Rest doesn't matter

When I said local, I meant primarily for the parts side. International places (crc/Jenson USA/probikeshop etc) are generally more expensive now thanks to theZAR

Well colour me informed! Thought that seeing it is likely to be web based, that it would include tax on any purchase. Anyway - check out local fully first, dude. For realz

Also bear in mind that the only thing you're saving on by getting your mate to bring it in is shipping costs. You still pay US sales tax on the frame which is actually MORE than the vat you'd pay to customs if you brought it in the legal way and paid vat here Also - at the moment the likes of cwc / buycycle / evobikes are actually cheaper than the US / European routes when it comes to parts and stuff (just done that exercise myself this week. USD & EURO & GBP really high right now) So before you pull the trigger look REALLY hard at what is available locally otherwise you may just end up paying more than you need to.

Something like this on the outside then...

Replacing these... http://www.olympiccycles.co.za/uploads/40177.jpg http://yousaytoo-us.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/post_images/00/fe/1c/9675340/remote_image_195f8d9d97.jpg

The narrow / wide? Or another wolfie?

http://cdn.sram.com/cdn/farfuture/iKqN-8zVG3Mo730ar6rtnyv26x-8w9ODH4nxsNnpQOg/mtime:1372788216/sites/default/files/images/products/derailleurs/sram_mtb_x9_rd_type_2_grey_web.jpg http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2011-sram-x7-2x10-_shifter_10speed.jpg http://www.bicyclebuys.com/productimages/1010213-36.jpg

34t 104 BCD. Apparently it's on its way with RAM.

http://onthecheapanamericandream.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/ilovelamp.gif

No thanks.

Martin - use your existing crank, wolftooth on the middle chainring position, nothing on the granny and a potential bash guard on the outer ring position. Sorted. Keep it like that till the x01 becomes available.

Mom's sewing cupboard for ribbon...

Read my post again, stringbean... NON X01 / XX1 crank... They're not available locally yet, or so it seems. Not talking about the cost issue, just trying to get a way for him to find his dream crank... If the X01 isn't available, and the X0 is also blingy, buy that and then get the wolftooth chainring that fits it.

It still does. Black bag, dowels and fishing line. DONE.

Jeepers. That's Hasselblad territory, and over...

This... Here...

Aaaaaaah... Why not buy the equivalent non X01 / XX1 crank and then slap on the Wolftooh / raceface Narrow wide? Or find a suitably bling crank and do the same?

EvoBikes has the XX1...

Giant. Even though I'm an SRAM fan, the parts can be upgraded and the frame on the giant (from a suspension performance standpoint) is far superior. It's also a FAR more versatile bike than the Merida.

Okay - first - Rocket Ron, or Racing Ralph? If your tyres say TLR on the side, then you can make them into tubeless. You will have to either go Ghetto tubeless (which involves cutting a tube so that it forms its own rim strip) or using some rim tape / strips to form a barrier over the spoke holes so that the tire will seal properly.

X0 trails are amazing.

Hmmm. Move over! There's space for one more there with you!

Elixir 5's...

I'm waiting for mine - will let you know once I've tried it out.