1. Dan, you rule - glad you're back on your bike.
2. I suck, or rather, my bank account does. I'm trying to get a 29er mountain bike together, but there's also my IRO Rob Roy group buy frame to build ... and that minor detail of financing a program at Humber that isn't eligible for OSAP. Sooo ... the hopes of full XT + goodies have just flown right the **** out the window, and I'm now just trying to find ANY permutation that ends up being a complete bike I can afford. Instead of the new XT, I'm thinking I'll have to go LX. Also, what are the cheapest hydros that don't suck complete ass? I'm not even sure if Juicy 5s are in the budget now.
My priorities for the bike are basically frame/fork/wheels ... brakes need to work for xc and beyond that I'll need to get the cheapest that isn't a waste of cash.
Edit: Umm ... fixed gear.