yes. Thanks for pointing that out. I appreciate your keen eyes. I ordered a cable tension tool today (name?) that will help me adjust brake cables. I am going back to the cantilever brakes on this bike.

Parts are trickling in. Headset, handlebars, tubes and tires came in yesterday and today. Here is todays progress - seeing that it’s got a bite in the air and it’s overcast snowing it’s good to tinker on this.

I am using Schwalbe “Pick up” tires for cargo bikes. The load capacity is 342 pounds. Seeing that I weigh 290 already …. Will be attaching gear…. I hope these will fit the bill. . I chose them not for performance so much but, for getting me from Point A to Point B.

I don’t have anything to compare to - but I ordered a set of Panaracers classic Smoke /Dart XC tires too for the other wheel set. They are so thin … and the online description didn’t really say they are for racing and high performance. So… going to send them back. Nice looking gum sidewalls but, I don’t see how they will hold up on sone rough roads and encountering roadside shoulder debris. Thoughts about these? A lot to learn.

putting these tough tires on the rims wasn’t so bad. I worked them around then used Gorilla tape around the rim and tire to hold my progress. Then I worked them some more and used woodworking Quick Clamps to compress the tires and hold The beads in place while made progress. I saw that they wanted to work off the rim and I didn’t have enough hands to assist. My 1970 vintage set of aluminum tire irons helped to get the last 12” on the rim. And the last 4” just popped right on with two irons. Plastic ones would have snapped.

the original Trek Matrix wheels cleaned up well. No bumps and they are true. Put new bearings, and axles with cups on them. They sat in the basement for a few years and needed some work.