As always, the bottom bracket is the center of the bicycle universe. The eternal BB-UN55 (in 123mm form) is securely installed, ready for duty. The 1.5mm spacer on the drive side gets the chainline to Shimano spec (for triples), minus 0.25mm or so. It also positions the drive side Q-factor where it needs to be. Obviously, this shorts the (crucial) non-drive side Q-factor, so a 1.2mm pedal washer is used to get things where they need to be.
The Tourney-inspired (I kid!) large pulley wheels may look a little odd at first on this 7700 GS rear derailleur, but compared to the startlingly-long (and uninspiring-looking) cage on the 7800 GS rear derailleur (for 10-speed triple duty), this is quite an elegant, proportional piece. I appreciate how the barrel adjuster is 'warm grey' in color--you could even say it's a French grey--matching the "Dura-Ace" script on the parallelogram body as well as elsewhere in the 7700 groupset (not to mention the 'warm grey' chain rings!).
Ahhh, my long-loved 7400 crankset. It, along with a pair of 7402 calipers, are my longest-owned Dura-Ace components. We have seen many bikes and many miles. Now it wears the Specialites T.A. Triplizer ring set, and well. All mounted (with greased square taper spindles, crank bolt threads, and dust cap threads) and ready for, well, the rest of the bike!
7803 front derailleur is now mounted as well. Great derailleur. I'll probably add a chain catcher for the 26T small ring as there remain a few odd times when the chain fails to cooperate regardless of excellent shifter and derailleur operation. Dropping chains is ever vexing, so I hope to remove that potential for good.
Stopping for the day, er, night. So far so good. Very good! The wheels are next to be cleaned and mounted. The seat post and saddle will follow, as will the stem/bars/levers/shifters. Much work to be done, but I am looking forward to it.
