Originally Posted by
mcours2006
OP, you can probably find all of the parts needed used on CL or similar, but maybe not the price you hope. But if you're patient you can score some good deals. The only problem with that is that if you wait too long you might lose interest in the project, and then you've got parts that you don't need anymore. If it sounds like I'm talking from personal experience, yeah...
I second the craigslist idea.
I've gotten all sorts of parts off of craigslist, usually for dirt cheap. The only bad experience I've had was a $15 unicycle I bought. And frankly it wasn't even that bad...a bracket was missing that stabilized the wheel, so it's at in my basement for the last 6 months lol.
Back on topic. It really isn't that big of a project. I got a set of 9 speed shimano sora brifters for $25. All this stuff is out there, if as mcours2006 said you're patient, and know what you're looking for.