Well I am still waiting for the replacement crown race to come in. In taking a closer look at the original, I don't think I damaged it but I won't take any chances and just have the new one installed.

If it wasn't for the crown race set back, progress should have been further along by now. In the mean time I was still able to move forward...

9-speed cassette and chain arrived yesterday:




Here's the tool used to install the cassette:
The ridges pair with the ring in on the top of the cassette and it kind of "ratchets" in.




I have been greasing everything that has threads with anti-seize grease:




And the finished product:



I meant to mention something about the frame earlier - In researching this frame I found several comments from people thinking this Nashbar touring frame ran "big" or "tall" I think were the descriptions. In comparison to my other frames this is not my experience at all. In fact, using my non-scientific methods, this frame seems less "crowded" on the standover than my Bianchi San Jos8 with 28mm tires. While I didn't use standover measurements to select which size to order this frame is similar in dimensions to the Bianchi aside from the longer wheelbase.