Part number 42 it is.
I'm trying not to totally break the bling meter Graeme  
 
 
  So the ally one may be a last resort.  I am commited to the standard one as I just paid $42US for part #43  

.  Apart from that the blokes on here will give me too much of a bagging if I go too bling.
One idea I had was heating up the tube and driving another rod down the middle, but I suppose a kink in the other direction  is likely.
I think finding a straight one would be a challenge,  but potentially worth considering 

.
I would try the heat and straighten, but every time you hit it to straighten it I'll leave a crease.  What have I got to lose apart from a bent rid and an expensive bodgy size spherical bearing that doesn't fit anywhere else  
