Retro Grouch: Thanks. 1) I am leaning towards the Shimanos- just wanted to hear some opinions. 2) A single speed hub is certainly simpler but then I only have a small selection of cranks to choose from to accommodate the chainline. I'm going to try to use the magic gear in lieu of a tensioner if I can, so chainline needs to be perfect.
Nuggetross: Yes drop bars. I'm sorry if that upsets your priggish slavery to conservative cyclery aesthetics. But unless you want to pay for my conversion I'll decide how my bike functions. Thank you very much. But if it makes you feel better the bike has an early 90's, skinny, steel tube frame with no suspension (front or back) and when paired with drop bars looks more like a classic cyclocross bike than anything else.