Hi Guys

Many apologies if this question has been asked before, but trying to sort out a good looking, all-round Groupset upgrade. With the myriad (Who swallowed that dictionary ? ) of possible combinations of Shifters/Derailleurs/Chainsets and Cassettes & Manufacturers, I just don't have the knowledge or experience to know WHAT will work with what !

Basically I'm trying to turn a Hybrid (with originally an MTB slant) into a Flat Bar 'Roadie'...........sort of a poor man's Boardman Hybrid, if you like. (Although the way costs are mounting, maybe I should have bought one outright ! )

Story is: I'm currently running a second-hand Claud Butler Urban 100.
A reasonably cheap and lightweight framed Hybrid. Being a pre-owned, 2006 model, it's had almost ALL the running gear replaced with anything the owner(s) came across.

Instead of the original 48/38/28 chainset, it now has a 52/39 double, working with a 7sp 14/28 Freewheel assembly with an 8sp rear derailleur, an unknown Shimano fd, and probably the original STI combined Brakes/Shifters.

We have one or two steep climbs nearby, so I decided to upgrade to a 105 Hollowtech II 50/39/30 which then needed a Shimano R443 front derailleur to work Triple Chainset with flat bars, (and a clamp to frame pulley wheel, to adapt my frame for a bottom-pull FD) and a set of Freehub wheels that would take an 8/9/10 sp cassette.

To complicate matters further, a mate flogged me a 9sp SRAM 11/32 cassette, before I found the 105 Chainset is TEN speed, and the total capacity of teeth is probably too great to use on a Triple(?),
Then a Tiagra 50/34 Hollowtech II Double came along at a price too good to refuse.
(No front derailleur for it though yet).

So with everyone seeming to go for Double Chainsets these days.....105 Triple or Tiagra Double ?

Will have to use 10sp Chain obviously anyway, but use SRAM 9sp, or buy 10sp cassette with WHICH ratios ? (Read that a lot of riders find the inclusion of a 16T sprocket gives a comfortable road pace).
Will I be able to use a med. cage 105 rear derailleur (if using the Triple Chainset) ? and which Flat Bar Shifter/ Derailleur combo will give me the correct cable pull ?

I COULD always copy the Boardman Hybrids I suppose, but to be honest they're a right ' Dog's Breakfast' of FSA Cranks & BB, Microshift Front Derailleur, SRAM Rear, KMC Chain and Shimano cassette ! No wonder my bloody brain's about to explode !
Can anyone save a poor Senior Citizen Newbie and help him and his 'racing' nylon knee replacements up a few hills ?

Cheers

MalcB