perhaps save the original wheels and build some alloy 27" wheels to fit for everyday riding?

My biggest complaint with the standard wheels was the fact that you could literally watch the brake pads being eaten by the rigidas...

and IMO, the Simplexes are probably the sweetest shifting derailers that I've used on a lower end bike - excluding the Suntour SR I put on the girlfriend's LeTour. That thing is like buddah!