Treker
The wheels were a from my winter MTB beater the nipples were alloy the salt eats them up nicely, brass are heavier but go a lot longer in crappy weather.
The trek 1000 seams to be very popular, loving mine so far i did buy it beginning of winter so not many km's on it yet. Not to sure i could pull off Ottawa, here & back that would be crazy, but sounds like fun for sure.
I have talked to a coupe of people about routes so i hope to try some. I’m on bath so i'll be heading west a lot & if you do the ride with your parents neighbor again let me know.
Cheers