My old dirt bike: Blow Ten


Cannondale Killer V.
brought in 2002.
I've always been a total fan boy of Cannondale mountain bikes, and there is this frame that always stuck in my head, the Killer V hard tail frame.
The Killer V frame was unique in it's day for it's top tube design. and share the "legend" position for me in the Cannondale history side by side with the Delta full suspension frame.
the idea i had with this bike was "Blow 10" (below 10).
brought it cheap and switch the parts with some cheap but relatively lighter parts in 2nd hand market or 3rd party factory outlet, to make it below 10kg with a budget below 10k hkd....
i recently (finally) archived this objective with a new brakes...
however.... without made the total under 10k hkd.... i made it finally within 10yrs.....

the new KCNC V-B1
levers 46.2g/pair
+
SRAM Attack shifters: 206g/pair
+
EVA foam grips: 14g/pair
on the Easton EC70 580mm handle bar: 128g

 v-brakes 206.5g/pair

Monocoque carbon sanddle

Friends call it a Razor Blade.
i trend to agree, he he he!!!
but it's actually more comfortable than it looks!

for long journey i do switch to a Selle Italia Flite Kevlar: 221g

full carbon monocoque sanddle and rails: 110g
+
Easton CT2 - 350mm seatpost: 188g

SARS flat pedals: 198g/pair
same factory from Wellgo - WR-1 with different logo marking.
there is a even lighter version with Titanium shaft (175g)....
but it's more than double the price with just few g less...

Shimano XTR Rapid Rise (reverse action) M953 Rear Derailleur (GS/Mid cages)w/ Alu cable stop bolt: 204.5g
+
Shimano Dura-Ace 12-27T: 174.5g
+
Shimano HG72: 278g

The Shimano XTR RD-M953-GS Rapid Rise rear derailleur is no longer available as a new part since 2001. The shifting performance and advantages the Rapid Rise system offered were a step above standard shifting systems.

The concept of Rapid Rise seems confusing until you see it in operation. On a normal shifting system the spring tension pulls the derailleur to the outside (small) of the rear chain ring with each click of the shifter. To move the chain to the inner (largest) chain ring, you must push the shifter with your thumb and overpower the spring tension to shift. This works well on road bikes or simple dirt roads, but when climbing steep hills or other difficult terrain shifting performance begins to suffer. Missed shifts occur, the dreaded jumping gears can pop up, and sometimes your chain just refuses to shift on a hill.

With Rapid Rise the spring tension pulls the derailleur inwards and towards the largest rear chain ring. Your thumb and gravity shift the chain down onto the increasingly smaller rings. This helps shifting performance immensely, and makes up-shifting under a load possible! The spring action gives the chain a strong and steady pull whenever you shift up, instead of your thumb doing all the work.