All done with the first build-up of this bike. After removing the fingernail polish, I got some enamel from the model shop to go back over all the gouges to prevent rust. It matches the hue moderately well, but is not metal-flake. Oh, well.

Deore XT derailleurs, 34/50 chainrings on an LX triple crankset, really narrow BB spindle to fix the chainline as a double. Sora STI levers are lighter than I expected, probably because of all the plastic in there. They're shifting fine now, we'll see how they hold up. I love the look of the Tektro cyclocross brake on the front, but am underwhelmed by the stopping power, even with Kool-Stops.

7-speed cassette wheels off the parts bike -- they've got some issues but are good enough for now. Pasela non-TG 26x1.5" tires are cushier than my Challenge Parigi-Roubaix and only feel a little bit slower.

Enough talk, here's the pics:



In the end, I just couldn't stand the look of those flaking decals.I carefully chipped them off with a razor blade, cleaned the exposed areas, and then shined them up with rubbing compound before waxing the frame. You can clearly see where they were, but it's not too bad. Bike might get repainted some day, if it turns into a forever-keeper.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I was worried it would handle like a veggie truck since it's "a mountain bike." In fact it handles like a nice road bike -- you think and it goes where you wanted. I almost want to write a "thank you" note to Grant Petersen.