appreciate the quick release caution. i'm not advanced in my thinking yet to understand why, given the correct axle length and not spreading or squeezing the spacing would require recentering beyond a normal assembly procedure.

i am not changing cog numbers (5 out/ 5 back in) or do you mean the smaller diameter wheel would have shorter spokes and a different depth dish (if that's the correct term)?

i'll get there eventually. and i will definitely buy a wheel made up. we're not adding wheel building to this learning curve. although it is something i would like to do once before i'm stuffed in the box.

thanks for the links, too. got to check out those 2 sites.

sid