Frenchosa

iI am building up a vintage Raleigh Professional for commuting and pass hunting duties. I live in Japan, so I want to keep the components Japanese. In the scenic country side where I want to cycle is mostly steep mountains For the front I plan to use a high end Shimano Dynamo hub because there are many dark tunnels and I need a light when I commute. On the rear I want to use a 30 or 32 8 speed mountain cassette. I have 8 speed 6400 brifters that I bought new back in the day, that I want to use again.. but I need to find some hoods at a reasonable price. I also have a set of 9 speed Dura Ace barend shifters that I could use, if I set them to friction.

The crank that I plan to use Velo Orange 46/30. Currently the rear is spaced for a 126 hub, but I am not against spreading rear. I kind of the look of Dura Ace 7700,,, but would like a hub that can be compatible with 8 speed, 9 speed or 10 speed. What would you recommend?

One more thing. it needs to be silver.

Orrery

That sounds very cool, it must be a beautiful area and pass hunting sounds like a lot of fun.

I recently built up a rando type rig from a '83 Trek 620 also spaced 126mm in the rear using a dynamo front wheel and a silver Shimano 105 5700 hub in the rear laced to Velocity A23. I'm using a 8 speed rear cassette, but where I am I don't need the range of a mountain cassette or the super wide compact gearing (although I am tempted to get a TA or SunXCD crankset).

DA7700 hubs are beautiful no doubt but can get expensive on the used market for a nice example. Ultegra should work great as well if you want to spend a bit more than 105.

noglider 

OK, y'all can make fun of me, but I have to ask: what is pass hunting?

Orrery

I'd never heard of it until recently. Velo Orange has some info here https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2006...unting_20.html

To quote,
"Living in the almost flat little coastal city of Annapolis, Maryland, I never thought this area was ripe for pass hunting. You know about pass hunting? It's that French and Japanese sport of collecting mountain passes you've ridden over. The only rule is that the pass must be marked by a sign or on a map. Do 100 and you get a pin or certificate or something. "

Pompiere

I found this on an old blog:
"The Japanese have applied this hiking concept to a form of bicycle riding they call Pass Hunting. Well, actually they call it something I can’t pronounce. But the translation is Pass Hunting. Like many things the Japanese are into, Pass Hunting is pursued to a point of obsession. Special bikes are built at great expense, clubs are formed, snug woolen jerseys are worn. The gist is: go around, find mountain passes, ride them, check them off a sheet, and submit the sheet to your friendly local Pass Hunting Club. Win fabulous prizes at the end of the year, like a commemorative medal you have to buy, or a piece of paper with something nice written on it." https://bikedoctorfrederick.wordpress...-of-chestnuts/

Wheels Of Steel

These are the hubs I'm using for my "Pass Hunter" build:

https://suzueltd.com/suzue_classica.html

The rear comes with either an aluminum or steel freehub body. I went with steel, more durable and a negligible weight difference.

Lascauxcaveman 

So, like birders adding to their life lists.

Frenchosa

In Japan there is a famous list of the top 100 Japanese mountains to climb. Many people spend their lives trying to complete all of them. Last year or so a the Japanese cycling magazine, Cycle Tourist made a list of the top 100 Toge (Pass) I have done a few of the passes and they are really beautiful rides. Recently, that magazine made an expanded version, top 200 Passes. I got to get it.