Hi Tel,
Nice bike! Similar shade of green. Took a look through the photobucket album - looks great.
The build is going well. I don't have any photos from this evenings work, but I managed to take it for a maiden voyage, albeit with no brakes or gears! The 7sp cassette and spacer work well, and the spacer has solved the clearance issue with the frame.
I have ordered new tecktro brake levers as one of the current brakes is damaged. The last job will be to fit some new cables and set up the gears / brakes. Also got some new bar tape.
On the seat post issue - no, didn't get it out. At some point in the future I might try again, but bearing in mind it's at the perfect height for me, I decided to leave it be - rather than damaging something. In fact I decided to spray it applejack too. I'll just tell people it's an integrated seat post! Haha - that is technically true after all.
I will sort some decals out too at some point.
The bike rides really well. I have to say that although this started out as a 'build a winter hack' idea the bike has kind of won me over! It's too nice to be a winter hack. So I can see it getting plenty of use over the summer too.
Will post some good pics when all is done. My deadline is this weekend coming.
N