Re:
I've gone with silver bars for the time being, most of the parts will be silver, and maybe the wheels if I can source another M261 rim from somewhere.
I also have the option of some Scott AT3s which I'm considering, or maybe even AT4s which would just be the nuts, as I did have those on the bike at some point.
The week has mostly been spent apolishing ma bits. I started off with the rear mech. I have an XT rear short cage, which is what I originally planned on using, but the scarring on the black section and the back end looks a bit rough.
So I thought I'd fish out as much as I could fine from the box, and it looks a bit like this
I had seen a couple of posts suggesting that sticking your bits in the work dishwasher might help to get rid of some of the really stubborn grime from the awkward corners
but it was a bit of a non event, pretty much as you were sir.
anyway heres a couple of random work in progress pics of the brakes and the better of the two mechs, long cage but that's alright
and a kind of ready to go front mech
I'd read a few posts about the trouble of shimming down a 31.8 mech to fit a 28.6 seat tube, so was well pleased to source a FD-6600 shim today, which does the job beautifully. Coke cans remain intact.
A whole heap more polishing to be done, and still a lot of jobs on the list.
The most important is sourcing some better rings to fit on the XT cranks. I have a few options:
I have some acceptable 28,38,48 non matching but useable silver round rings, the bottom and middle are ok, but the outer is a bit worn in places.
I have the original 400LX Biopace rings, they are black, but rusty as hell. I could polish them up to Silver, but I suspect they would just rust again pretty quick
I have some good matching Silver biopace rings off a 300LX chainset.
Or widen the Search a bit...
Source the M261 rim, if possible. I have a DX hubset on a set of Specialized rims, which are ok, but the braking surface is a bit suspect, and it was always Mavic for me BITD
Then find a Turbo saddle, fix the top of the seatpost, recondition the XT pedals, find some green toeclip straps, find some Aztec pads, polish out the lever blades to Silver....and so on. Having lots of fun with this one!