A few questions, all of them purely out of idle curiosity.

What was involved in getting those chainstays that much shorter? I'm guessing you had to replace the entire rear triangle, but what do I know? If torch work was involved, did you do the work yourself or have it done?

Can you take the rear wheel off or put it back on with the tire inflated? From the look of things, I'm guessing you have to have a deflated tire for both operations. (I have a bike like that; it rides great but it is a bit of a nuisance if I want to take the rear wheel off for anything other than a flat.)