Excellent, I love those forks. Getting to where I'd rather ride something like that on pavement than rigid, they are light and feel plenty efficient but really smoove out the ride. Dunno if I'd want to take em over Pearl Pass but then, I'm a pussy
If you're still thinking 1x, to me it's nice for the sort of trails I really love riding 26ers on. I like having a clutch, less slap and just generally less fuss. For "all terrain" I dunno I still kinda like 2x8 or 3x8, kinda hard to beat the range and it's nice being able to find the exact right gear like if you're in the wind or something. I would think 3x if you're a strong rider and like to go fast (and that's shaping up to be a fast bike eh). I was way into the 1x thing for a while there but right this minute I only have one. It's my go-to dirt bike so it gets a lot of time, but it's not the end-all be-all
I like 11spd derailleurs but on vintage frames but I typically use em on 1x10 drive trains cuz it's expensive, plug and play. Chainline works out and it's plenty of range for me, in the dirt at least. In terms of where you spend your money, I recommend getting the cheapest derailleur, and the nicest shifter you can find. If you can get your hands on a 10spd Shimano Saint shifter at a good price, snatch it up. Super nice, like buttah. The M5120 rd is amazingly OK, works every time. Not much bling to it but it makes the bike go
Wifey is running an advent 1x9 on one of her bikes, she loves it and I'll admit it makes the bike go, easy to set up and the price is right, just feels kinda numb and "klunky" to me. Haven't tried the Cues stuff yet, although I'm sure it's fine. Not worth the trouble imo to hack together a 1x drivetrain with vintage parts; it can be done but I don't see the advantage, worst of both worlds.
