Wheel build advice

[out_spokin']

Hi all,
Thanks to previous threads here I got the confidence and inspiration to delve further into wrenching and have learned to true wheels - well, at least one so far, with help, but I find it meditative and fun and want to keep building my skills.

Here's my deal - I have a nice early 90's vintage Gary Fisher full rigid MTB I use for commuting and fun. I'd like to have a 2nd wheelset ready to go for snowy commutes and maybe light trail riding. My rear rim on the original wheelset had developed cracking, so I found a replacement wheelset and hung up the others. Til' now...

The original hubs (rear XT, front LX) need an overhaul but the overall mileage over the years has been mostly fair weather road and nothing epic. I'll double check the races and such but I don't expect to find anything but nice older hubs. The front rim is undamaged and still running true. I picked up an NOS pair of Specialized rims on craigslist this summer, mid-to-high quality (they were spec'd on the Specialized Stumpjumper). I've got extra tires and will have to pick up a cassette...

I hate to trash a perfectly OK (as far as I know) front wheel and am not attached to the looks of matched wheels. Would you:

a. cut out the hub from the front and build a matching set of wheels with the old hubs, new rims, and new spokes?
b. keep the front wheel, find a similar rim, and just build a new rear wheel? (and sell the other rims as a set)
c. something else?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice/opinions...

[DebW]

I'd build up the new rear wheel and keep riding the old front wheel. I'd save the matching new rim until the current front rim is bashed up enough to warrant replacement. I once saved a pair of rims for 10 years until I got around to rebuilding with them.

[out_spokin']

Thanks, DebW. 10 years, huh? I love those parts of bike-land that are standardized enough to be that versatile. I'm guessing these rims have been waiting at least 5 all new and unbuilt, so they can wait a bit longer in their 32-hole standard carefully stored niceness. Now I gotta order myself a copy of that Bicycle Wheel book!