I considered mounting my controls the way that Timber_8 did (I followed his thread closely when he installed his bars) but I figured that I would spend the least amount of time with my hands in that position. While not ideal (I have to reach back to shift or brake from the side position of the bars, which is where I spend most of my time) the set-up still works and it took little time to become intuitive.

If you're asking how my drivetrain held up after a winter's worth of riding the answer is not too bad; I cleaned the chain on a regular basis and tried to keep everything well lubed. That being said I think both my chain and all of my cables need to be replaced before the next winter. I hope to eventually convert this bike to an IGH (or single-speed) and make it a dedicated foul-weather commuter.