Fender and Nikkorod were REALLY helpful in working me through this...and obviously gomango and RFC raised the spectre of doubt in my plan. If I don't like it, I can always scrap it and go for a Pugsley. I got the Litespeed at a ridiculous price, so I should be able to finish this project at a very reasonable number. The trick is going to be stealing a junk frame with a decent 9sp gruppo.