So, an update: As a newbie, I did not expect so much feedback within one short day, but I suppose that's what being part of a forum is like. I love the advice you all have provided so far and has got me thinking more. A Reynolds 531 frame, according to your descriptions, is probably something that I'd love very much as I'm a fan of the "sweet steel ride" based on my limited experience. That's something that I'll definitely have to try. However, I still have a tinge of reluctance to adopt such a frame for my current bike build. I assure you it is not the "I'm not hearing what I want to hear so I'll make up an excuse" type of thing - I'm an architecture student and I'm used to that, haha. The probably-important reasons why I was looking for a tougher, laid-back frame weren't made clear by me in the first post, so here they are:
1. The bike will be my daily transportation between North and Central campus in Ann Arbor and will get wet when it rains or snows. It will take quite a beating despite my attempts to keep it fresh.
2. My daily backpack load consists of notebooks, textbook(s), sometimes laptop. Weekly grocery trips usually for 1 gallon of milk, 1 gallon of tea, some frozen chicken pot pies, ramen, and bread, all attached to the rear rack.
3. Long rides have not and will not be often
Essentially, I'm building a town bike. The load is what makes me unsure about the road bike geometry for this project and I'm not sure I'd be comfortable using a more valuable frame for beating around the pot-holed town in the rain or snow. If the Sports frame got damaged, sure I'd cry a lil bit, but I'd then carry the components over onto another and life would go on soon enough. Not sure I could say the same about a nicer frame. The loads listed above are also not that heavy, but heavy enough that I'd feel uncomfortable with them even on my old ten-speed.
Also, I may just be young, but I haven't found the weight of the bike to be so much of a problem - it's probably better in the snow, anyway. My first Sports has never left me sitting on the ground on a snowy day, but what I do find annoying sometimes is a slight lack of gear ratios and the lack of braking power in the wet, both of which are solved by the 5-speed drum brake hub. I personally just love dynohubs and the comfy ride of a Sports so that's why I originally wanted them to be part of the build.
Part of the reason why I felt it may be worth upgrading a heavy, old Sports frame with these hubs is because Pashley still sells tank-like, IGH'd, drum-braked commuter bikes. I may be wrong about how worth-it it is though because of my personal love for the Sports.
BUT STILL, if a Reynolds 531 or similar frame will carry out my regular duties just fine, then I'd better start looking.
All in all, thank y'all SO much for the suggestions and please keep them coming!
