I work very close to Duke, when the got out in May I Did daily driveby's of what the Kids were throwing out Trek 4300-Silver and Blue w/ a Gila G-5 Fork, and a Specialized Hard Rock-Greyish Silver-Gila T4 (2002-2005?). The former was in rough shape particularly the fork, the later looks good but has non-branded everying but ACERA Rear Dereailer. The Trek has Alivio rear and unbranded a top pull front.

I managed to completely disassemble both and (one of my clients is a gunsmith) put them in a 2000 gallon tank of Kerosene for 1 week (everything but frames); everything is 1000% better but the T-5 and more importantly the derailers present an issue.

The T-5: I had to use a wirebrush on a grinding wheel to clean up the "stearing tubes" concerned about damage to upper shock gasket.

Both rear derailers (Alivo Forward Gear, Acera Rear Gear) are completely dichomatic in condition of teeth; one on Each 95%, the other being unusalble.

The Front are just cheap. Cranks and everything else look great.

My question is-I intended to use my bike daily on this 100 mile bike trail behind my house, my wife on weekends. If I'm sucessful finding a little to no cost solution; I may be able to get a nice road bike for christmas.

I've honestly been to every bike shop 15+ with a 40 mile radious. No one sells used parts. There's none on ebay-that aren't rediculous (or rediculous for these frames). I've looked on this sight-no luck. Nothing on craigslist.

What year did they start the 8 speed cassetts? Do they over-lap the STX/STX-RC that I was fond of? I love the feel of true rapid fire (and like turning it more); I would really enjoy that set-up.

Is there some secret auction site where people put there comparitive "junk"?

What is the deal with Gila?

Thank you so much for your advise, and help.

*How can I find out how many links I am supposed to have on my new chains. I think the old ones were altered.

Hmm... You're kind of all over the place here. I don't know what Gila is, but give Yahoo or Google a shot. I'm confused by your comment about turning rapid fire. If you're talking about shifters, are you confusing grip shift and rapid fire shifting? Grip shift is the one on the bar that you twist the grip, rapid fire is the trigger type shifter. As for the 8sp stuff, All Shimano 7/8sp is the same spacing, so any of it will work together, if that helps anything. The only secret auction site for used bike crap I know of is known as craigslist, and it's just a matter of wasting a lot of your time there until you find the right thing. Often times you can put up a "Wanted" ad on CL in the bike section if you're just looking for a few cheaper parts. I've had luck with that the few times I've tried it.

Oh, and don't soak things in huge tanks of Kerosene. That's TERRIBLE for the environment.

Gila is a low end RST fork, if its not already buggered it will be shortly. Dont worry about the top seals on the forks where you wire brushed, thier not holding any fluids in anyway, both forks will be spring and elastomer without any damping funtion.

Some parts you just have to buy new, or make do with what youv'e got.