You might be dropping chains on your group ride without the front derailleur. Also I'm guessing the size of the spindle on your bottom bracket is too long since it was designed for a triple and not a double. May not matter much since you're using friction shifting but your chainline will be off.

Front shifting may also not be as crisp since the derailleur wasn't designed for a double but it sounds like you plan on replacing that anyway.

At what point does this stop being a report on a Denali ? There won't be anything left but the frame within a few months.