Hiya.

Just thinking out loud at the mo about replacing my old Rock Lobster 853.

Mostly days out on the moors, local singletrack, the odd trail centre etc.
Nothing really techy, prefer reds to blacks.

Needs to be small, 15″ ish – small Cotics fit well, for example.

Needs to have a threaded bb and the ability to fit a front mech.

Would prefer:
QR/non boost.
A couple of cage mounts.

Will probably be going rigid eventually.
Not sure if I want or need a dropper.

And if there’s anything singlespeed/hub gear specific, that would be even better.

Not fussed about frame material or brand and I assume it’ll probably be secondhand.

Ta in advance!

Stanton Sherpa Mk1
Singular Swift (can be run SS)
Stooge (might be slightly large- check the geometry)
Pipedream Sirius
On-one Inbred 29er
Cotic Solaris (small was only introduce later, so watch out for that)

Salsa El Mariachi

Bookmarked for later

Whatever you go for if this is your first 29er save up for some decent wheels, because of the extra size and rotating weight the wheels can make or break the ride of any 29er,
I got a cheap second hand Xcaliber frame and some cheap wheels made it feel like a lump, got some Crossmax ST”s and it was transformed, I’m not saying go out and drop silly money but just be mindful..
Also the ride difference between alloy or steel isn’t as marked as on a 26er imo (I’ve had both) but the weight difference is pretty big, my El Mariachi frame weighd twice the Xcal frame and didn’t (imo) ride any better it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t any better either.
The Trek Marlin ss frames meet your criteria btw, bottle bosses, external bb, also will take gears and come up regular on eBay for not lots.