I used a lot of parts that we had lying around, and had the frame made overseas by a custom builder. All up, I don't think we've spent more than AU$9k, but that includes about $1,000 in changes once it was rideable. Titanium brake rotors (203mm) look cool, but are a disaster. Unless you like replacing pads and rotors every 220k, at about $150 an end.

We started a little internet shop, and ran into the same story with nearly every company. They have their exclusive distributor, who won't sell to us as we don't have a physical location (um, my ass is on a chair, that's my location!). So now my bro walks into his LBS (Supergo is 2 minutes away) and orders whatever we want. The shop I used to buy from sells to me with about 5% markup. They even sent me the dealer's catalog! By the time shipping is paid, it's still less than half what the LBS here pays, so it works out well. All we have right now is some odd bits, because there's some holiday next month, and my kids are expecting presents, but early 2005, we'll be ordering up some goods. In the meantime, we also accept special orders. Not a sales pitch, sorry. I'd sell something at my cost just to stick it to the distributors that are jacking up the prices, and keep more bikes on the road. Oh, in case you guys want to know where to get the best prices, and to show I'm not trying to sell anything, try www.qbike.com. It will locate the best price in the states, nearly every time. Oh, Aussie "wimmin" are way better than American women. Hurts to say it, but it's true.