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right, i'm looking for a nice xc/hybrid steel frame for 26" wheels. looking for something cheap and light. yes, yes, i know - the feel of steel, but light weight [i]and[/i] cheap = the holy grail. but just give me some suggestions. many thanks in advance,
sonic.
Singular Hummingbird
with no idea of your definitions of light and cheap it's difficult to say.
Personally I don't think you have the "light steel" feel over say 4.25lb. Inbreds etc weight 4.75-5lb and will ride nice but not light.
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COVE HANDJOB!
P7 - IMO the best off the peg steel frame you can buy
I am interested in this as I have decided to go for gears again after being only SS. I also want FS after being fully rigid.
My shortlist maybe something like this...
Scandal
Handjob
Hummer
Cotic Soul
Singular Hummingbird or Swift
Kona Explosif
Is the Hummingbird on sale yet?
The Scandal will be very different from the others I reckon. I don't think that Kona make anything in steel any more, but my Unit is superb (same frame as Explosif). Soul will be good. The 853 Lobster is definitely worth a look.
Charge Duster could be built light. I've got mine built up fairly light and it feels great. 853 would be better though!
My unit is a tank but rides acceptably well - nothing at all special though, no idea why kona has the rep it has.
Any frame can be "built light".
It also depends a lot on travel, I think that the P7 is designed to take around 140mm forks whilst I suspect that the Merlin one is nearer 100mm. I'm happy with my 853 Inbred (although you can't get these any more) and a standard Inbred is certainly cheap (although not niche).
Merlin still have some good deals of 2008 Rocky Mountain Blizzard frames which look lovely and I've had my eye on an 853 Genesis Altitude 3.0 frame for a while (£350ish and 100-130mm I believe).