What I might do with the hybrid

I currently seem to be suffering from a fortuitous combination of elbow tendinitis and a flu-type virus. The result is a lack of energy, slightly dubious sense of balance and discomfort when I try to grip anything. This means that I don't really want to cycle, run or swim, and even messing around with a screwdriver seems to to be off limits. But I can just about manage to type gently.

This gives me the opportunity to at least think about what I'm going to do with the hybrid, and in what order.

It currently looks like this:

First of all I plan to strip it back down to a bare frame and forks, and have it powder coated, probably in pale blue.

Then I will build it back up with the current components, except for the  headset, front brake, and possibly cables, which will need to be replaced.

Once it is all working again, I plan to replace the existing butterfly bars with some new moustache or Northroad bars like these or these; and I may also fit a new stem at this stage. I do quite like the butterfly bars, but not quite enough not to replace them. They were on the tandem, with the brakes in the more conventional position (at the ends), but I wasn't happy with this. On the tandem I like my hands close to the brakes most of the time, and on the butterfly bars this gives the least sense of control and stability while also losing all of the useful hand positions.

When I put the bars on the hybrid I put the brake levers in the less conventional position you can see in the picture, near to those places where I most often have my hands. This is definitely an improvement, and I can't help but think people choose the other position simply because it is much more difficult getting the levers round the bars into my preferred position.

I will also replace at least the front wheel (but probably both wheels if finances stretch that far), with either proper handmade touring wheels from Spa in Harrogate or a pair from Rose Versand in Germany (cheaper, possibly handmade and probably with a dynamo hub). If I decide not to replace the rear wheel then I will need a new rear cassette (7-speed); If I do replace the rear wheel I will need a new rear cassette (7- or 8- speed, but 8-speed might require a new set of gear levers and maybe even a new rear mech).

By then it will be summer, so I will put off fitting new mudguards (and maybe a rack) until winter is looming once more.

And then it will be complete... unless I maybe get some thumb shifters and then maybe...