To the build.....philosophy is all well and good but it butters no parsnips.
The frame is under investigation.....more on that later.
So im starting at a random point. Random, but something I'm sure about......which as this is a slightly organic build.......reassuring.
Hubs. I like 8 speed.....I know nobody else does and that 7 seems to be the magic retro number......but hey.
I also know that most people see 8 as merely a stepping stone to 9.....but then we all know where that led.....stretchy chains, cogs made of cheese.....etc etc.
I like 8 in a specific ratio 11 -28. The extra gear over 7 makes that a really nice smooth spread imho. I've used it touring for decades and love it. No jumping around rings, nice. As im not planning on cycling up K2 and i live in a painfully flat place its fine...plus thats what a granny if for! Plus the chains last.
Thanks to @KondratievsBike who karma'd me the rear XT M737 out of an old wheel, bit stiff, bit messy....but fantastically kind.
These were the first of the Parallax hubs, replacing the long serving M732.
Having gutted it and found the missing bits....(i never know why people have to leave parts out when they rebuild stuff).....de greased it, filed out the damage, polished it and rebuilt it.....its great....lovely races, ready to go.
The front was an ebay find, but cheap as it was near perfect. Its actually the M738 which has a slightly thicker spindle, suspension fitting end caps (and a gold label). They were designed by shimano to cope with suspension forks which were becoming normal fare. They do however fit all normal forks, although being called "110", they are 100mm.....thanks for the confusion shimano!
So its a start.....suppose that also sorts the cassette i need......one decision down.
The frame is under investigation.....more on that later.
So im starting at a random point. Random, but something I'm sure about......which as this is a slightly organic build.......reassuring.
Hubs. I like 8 speed.....I know nobody else does and that 7 seems to be the magic retro number......but hey.
I also know that most people see 8 as merely a stepping stone to 9.....but then we all know where that led.....stretchy chains, cogs made of cheese.....etc etc.
I like 8 in a specific ratio 11 -28. The extra gear over 7 makes that a really nice smooth spread imho. I've used it touring for decades and love it. No jumping around rings, nice. As im not planning on cycling up K2 and i live in a painfully flat place its fine...plus thats what a granny if for! Plus the chains last.
Thanks to @KondratievsBike who karma'd me the rear XT M737 out of an old wheel, bit stiff, bit messy....but fantastically kind.
These were the first of the Parallax hubs, replacing the long serving M732.
Having gutted it and found the missing bits....(i never know why people have to leave parts out when they rebuild stuff).....de greased it, filed out the damage, polished it and rebuilt it.....its great....lovely races, ready to go.
The front was an ebay find, but cheap as it was near perfect. Its actually the M738 which has a slightly thicker spindle, suspension fitting end caps (and a gold label). They were designed by shimano to cope with suspension forks which were becoming normal fare. They do however fit all normal forks, although being called "110", they are 100mm.....thanks for the confusion shimano!
So its a start.....suppose that also sorts the cassette i need......one decision down.
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due to not really looking and just bunging the wheel in and tightening it up, I found out the hard way why this was needed! Loud bang and bits of dropout shot across the garage, bugger! 
