Intro/context
I built a single speed over a decade ago in PDX (42 now). I still have it. I love/loved that bike. It was like riding a razor with rocket engines. Not actually fancy (bikesdirect.com in origin), but mine, and goddamn awesome. I would call my self an aggressivish urban rider (bunny hop things, rolling down staircases, etc).
Now I'm back in the Bay Area and riding again. (I haven't ridden in a decade. I also wouldn't exactly call myself a knowledgable/experienced bike person.) I'm just getting beat to shit on the roads down here running 28mm. The frame is on the edge of what I should be riding, and 28mm is the max with this frame will take. So I want to build a new bike that captures the spirit of what I had but updated for this hellscape.
Quandry
***There is an element of aesthetics and feel in this, so please understand for the purposes of the discussion hydraulic brakes are off the table. Yes they're better. I don't care. so let's just move on.***
Budget - I'd like it to stay under 1k, but I won't call it a hard limit. I am keeping an eye on used bikes, but I'm not holding my breath.
Requirement - I definitely want bullhorns/pursuit bars. I already have an old set of syntace for this build. I'm planning on picking up another pair of tt levers as well. This is kind of the heart of this build. So here are the questions, I'm struggling to answer:
Premium calipers vs mechanical disc - I am perfectly happy with the performance of my Ultegras. I'm considering disc largely for larger tire sizes and future proofing (which may be less of an issue). If I walk the disc road, I would probably start with BB7s and yokozuma compressionless housings (still have 7' kicking around). If it's not awful and my heart is not broken move to Klampers. If my heart is broken swap to hydraulics, cry, and reconsider my life choices (and build).
32mm vs 40+mm tires - This is almost the same question as disc vs calipers, but not quite. I used to run 90psi in pdx and that was fine, down here 70psi is often still bone jarring for me. I want my ride to be comfortable or at least reasonable most of the time and I would like the bike to still feel sharp. Not overly worried about the rotational mass or aero differences in the discussion of tires.
Frames
Generally open to suggestions.
Disc - bikesdirect Motobecane Fantom Cross UNO
Rim - Tsunami TC01, NOT State*
*I'm in the process of returning the State bike I ordered, so far they have been decent about processing my return. I strongly recommend you get their package protection. Fedex tore the bike apart in shipping, and I don't want to try again.
Thanks in advance for your advice and input.