contrary to what bike shop clerks tell me, it still is quite good uphill, handles like a dream and is perfect for my riding style... i like not to technical tracks, and also like to do very long rides. Equipped with smaller slicks, i also use it to do "bike&hike" stuff, ride to the mountains (my home town is about 65km away from the closest mountains), ride them up as far as you can, then hide the bike in some bushes and walk to the top
Build list: (new stuff in bold)
Frame:Rocky Mountain Element Signature ("insinct" outside Germany)
Fork: RS SID SL 2000 or 2001
Brakes/Levers: Avid Magnesium
Shifters/rear/front DR: XTR 2007
Cranks: XTR 2006
Bar/stem: Syntace
Barends: Ritchey WCS
Seatpin: Easton
Hubs: XTR (front 1st series, replacement wheel...)
Tires: Conti Explorer
Weight as on the pics: 11.6kg
