A final update on the build.
I've been riding this bike for a while and it is one of my new favorites due to its simplicity.
I wanted to do a couple of last minute touches and wound up swapping out the rear cassette while I was at it.
The external cables along the top tube tend to slap a little and were scratching the finish so I bought some Gorilla Grip clear duct tape and applied it along that part of the tube. MEC sells a similar frame saver product for $39/1m
https://www.mec.ca/en/search2?text=clear%20frame%20tape&org_text=clear%20frame%20tape but the whole roll of this was $10/8.2m and can do a number of bikes
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/gor...ape/1000762658
I also wanted to finish the bar tape with an organic looking product (rather than tape) and tried some Jute twine top coated with French Schellac. It should dry darker but I'm so so about the rough texture. Hummm... If I don't like it I'll cut it off and go with hemp cord. Also added a different bell and put the thumbie under the bar so the top of the cockpit looks bare.
Lastly, I swapped out the cassette. Originally a stock 7speed 13/28 I tried a SunRace 7speed 11/34 which was great. But then I read about a SunRace 8speed 11/40 cassette and with the help of my bike mechanic friend figured out how to change the hub body to turn a 7 speed into an 8 speed. The derailer and thumb shifters were both compatible.
I think that's it. A fun minimalist 1x 26r for cheaps.
