Sold - 970 XTR Shadow rear derailleur.

SOLD

Up for grabs is a lightly (mint) used XTR Shadow rear derailleur off of the X-Ben. Has a low profile to minimise rock strikes, carbon cage for lightweight and looks, and stiffer return spring for more SRAM like shifting. Reason for selling, went to DuraAce derailleur.

Asking $150 SOLD
Retails for $395

I am dowwwwn

Nothin major so don't worry too much. Started getting a cold Saturday night and she pretty much went full blown before Sunday so I've had to take Sun/Mon off work and only put in a 1/2 shift today. Was going to make a brief visit home but I have been getting no sleep at night so I am gonna stay put and try and get some rest. Mostly just sore throat and a bit fluey. Hopefully the throat gets better by Thursday or I'm going to have to go get it checked out before I head South. Lots of work to be done still before I go but I think I have most of it under control.
Also ordered a new part for the X-Ben yesterday. With Stan's and valves and tape bike is now 22.06lbs which simply won't do. Wait for the pics, part is arriving Thursday some time. It'll bring it under 22lbs fo sho.
Back to the recliner!

A star is born. Anthem X-Ben 99.999999% finished!!!!!

Sooooooooooo not saying it's completely done, that would be misleading. What do I have left to do before it is rideable? Finish tensioning the wheels, install tape and valve stems, and install grips. Here is the DL:
Frame: 2009 Giant Anthem X1
Fork: RockShox SID Team 100mm
Shock: Fox RP2
Handlebar: FSA K-Force
Stem: Cannondale Fire 120mm
Seatpost: Token carbon
Saddle: Token carbon
Pedals: Look Quartz
Shifters: Shimano XT Triggers
Front Derailleur: Shimano XT
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR Shadow
Brakes: Avid Elixir R
Cassette: Shimano DuraAce 11-27
Chain: KMC X10SL Gold
Cranks: Shimano XT with TA 26/38 rings
Bottom Bracket: Shimano XT
Rims: Stans ZTR Podium MMX
Hubs: WTB Laserdisc Lite
Spokes/Nipples: DT Swiss Revolution 2.0/1.5/2.0 spokes with gold DT alloy nipples
Skewers: Token carbon/Ti
Tires: Kenda Small Block 8 26x2.1 regular tube type
Extras: Nokon cable housing, Token seat clamp, Bike Ribbon cork/foam grips.

So if you read my post a few weeks ago I said my goal for this bike was to lose 2lbs and have it sit around 23.5lbs. Well I did in fact meet that goal. You could say that I almost doubled my expected 2lb loss............. Total bike weight is...............................21.8lbs!!!!
Well actually it was 21.69 but I am taking into account the valve stems and sealant that I will put in tomorrow (but I did weigh it with the grips). My wheelset came out to 1314grams before valve stems and tape. Should be around 1380 grams with tape, valves, and skewers! Definitely the coolest and lightest (by far) bike I've ever owned. Almost 2lbs lighter than my 2009 X0.

Plans for the fall. Cranks, brakes, hubs, front derailleur, fork, shifters...............not going to be specific here but I have my eye on some pretty cool stuff. Sub 20lbs perhaps.......

Quartz pedals, TA rings, KMC chain, DA cassette

Token saddle and post nom nom

Gold nipples, I like the golden ones ha ha ha. Podium MMX rims (288grams DAMN!) Also DT Revolution spokes.

Another look at the drivetrain. Can't wait to give her a spin.
 
Here's a little update for you, done through pictures.  I did quite a bit more work to it last winter and now she sits pretty close to where I want it to be.  Just a few more parts to tweak but the Pulsar gets all my money right now :-)

NEWEST PIC, Spring 2013

T-Minus

So have I mentioned I'm busy this time of year? Well I am busy. Busy too. Not that I'm one of those people that complains they are too busy and makes everyone around them think "big deal dude we're all busy, suck it up". No more like I enter this workaholic mode where I just keep piling on the work when I should really say no to some stuff. I guess it is the intersection of procrastination and other jobs that really can't be done until the week leading up to my leaving. I just think to myself, in a little over a week it will all be pretty much done and I will be down South. Yes I will actually be there in 10 days (I realise doing the whole count down thing in blog posts makes them obsolete the very next day but if you are reading this (on any day other than the 18th of February 2010 (not likely you will be reading it that date (not likely anyone reads this at all (just playin' I know exactly who reads this and when (not that it's a big deal just let it happen))))) just humour me and do the mental math). I leave on the morning of the 28th. Plan is to roll out around 5 or 5:30am and will probably arrive between 9-10pm.
Anyways the real purpose of this post was to give a little teaser. All of my parts have arrived for the Anthem X-Ben except for my rims (ahem Stan's Podium MMX). I got my Bike Ribbon cork/foam grips, DT Revolution 2.0/1.5/2.0 spoke, and some gold DT alloy spoke nipples to round it off. I am hoping for 1400grams including rim tape and valve stems AND skewers. Did I mention I got Token carbon/titanium quick release skewers that weigh 35 grams............for the pair!
Enough teasers for one day. Bike will be done as soon as the rims arrive..................pleeeease let that be tomorrow (ahem Friday the 19th).

Anthem X-Ben

TA Chinook chainrings. 26/38 tooth mounted on the 2 inner chainring spots for better cross chaining. Running a DuraAce 11-27 9 speed cassette.
Ohhhhhh k so I guess time is counting down. The crunch is on! Good thing all my stuff is falling into place. Just got a bunch more parts for my 2009 Anthem X1 (from now on formally titled Anthem X-Ben) build. I am super restless now and all I wanna do is just finish the bike, get in the car, and drive. I am having waaaay more fun building up my bike then just buying everything in one boring package. I like working on bikes as much as I like riding them so this really caters to my interests. Anyways I have some pics of what I got done tonight but there are many more surprises in store for the next 2 weeks. I really have no idea what the bike weighed before but I will be happy with 23.5lbs (same as my old $7000 2009 Anthem X0) with the parts I have so far. I think I have lost about 2lbs and spent probably $1000. Much more cool tweaks to come in the next 12 months.

FSA K-Force flat bar. Has the same backsweep as a typical riser bar but 60 grams or so lighter. Also have the white Nokons mostly installed.

A look at the white Nokons, TA chainrings, and trying out the new Look Quartz pedals. They are 280grams and retail is $129!!! Hopefully they don't suck.

Ohhhhhhhh lala sexy time. Token carbon saddle is 114 grams and Token carbon seat post is 136 grams. It is designed to be flexy so I think it might actually be comfy.

Good times and random stuff happens

Wow back in Barrie already. Visited the fam today, drove out Wednesday after work with the promise of banana loaf and epic Monopoly games. Good times were had, really the fact that I dominated in Monopoly is not a very important point but I did. Drove back this aft and boy howdy is my car ever caked in salt. Sister (in law) exceeded my expectations with request of a life-like portrait of myself riding a unicorn and decided a hippopotamus wearing tiny shoes was much more appropriate. I must say I now completely agree.
On another note, I was doing up the dishes tonight getting ready to make some spicy black bean soup when my crock pot lid decided to spontaneously explode while resting in the drying rack. I heard the pop over my Ultimate Ears 700's as razor sharp shards of glass went hurtling in every direction. As much as I really like having tiny pieces of glass all over my food preparation surfaces I had to take an extra 90 minutes to re-wash the dishes and clean the crap out of my counter tops, sinks, appliances, and kitchen carpet (yeah who puts carpet in the kitchen???). Anyways I thought that was rather odd and hilariously inconvenient at the same time. Didn't stop me from making the soup though, just busted out the big pot and going retro stove-top and letting it simmer over night.
Anyways that's it from my exciting world. More bike parts are-a rollin' in so I will keep you posted on how the Anthem XBen build is coming along. Oh yes and 3.31 weeks until I leave for South Carolina :-)

That black round thing is actually the glass lid handle that was launched

Arrrrggggggggggggh haha