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@mind_maze
The next step was figuring out a set of components.
I needed 26" wheels to maintain alignment between the braking surfaces and brake posts. I also wanted tubeless (more reliable for winter and to run low pressures when gravel (there I said it) touring)... but after lots of time hunting, it turns out that tubeless, 26" and rim brakes are not a common combination. By the time tubeless came along, the MTB world had already moved on to discs. So I had a set built up with silver box rims for that 90s aesthetic.
For the groupset, Shimano MTB was the obvious choice and I decided to go 1x to keep things simple. 11-46 on the back and 42 on the front. I would have preferred a smaller front chainring, but that's all I could find. Maybe I'll replace it down the line.
I picked up some second hand shifters, cranks and pedals. All Deore. Not exciting, kind of ugly, but the best bikes are always a bit humble imo.
I picked up some V-brakes on the bay. The pads were more worn than they appeared in the pictures but it was a good excuse to pick up some Kool Stops.
A great commuter means no rucksack, so racks were a must. I went for a cantilever style one so that the wheel can be removed without messing with it.
The bars clearly had to be bullmoose...
I killed the resale by chopping 20mm off each side. Wide bars aren't much fun in traffic.
Wonder if I'm gonna regret that one?
Mudguards are Velo Orange again. Not many options in 26" and 60mm.
Next up some color choices and the 3D jigsaw that is V-brakes, mudguards and racks...