Cheap, Steel (?), Singlespeed, 700c Frame?

Currently running an old Spesh Tricross as my town bike but its reaching the end of its life and the pasting it gets, I’m starting to worry about the carbon fork on it. Plus I fancy getting something a tiny bit smarter, maybe something that can double up as an adhoc gravel bike. Think what I’m after is a kind of modern day On-One Pompino – something thats cheap, will take a half decent 700c tyre, mud guards, run it singlespeed, maybe take discs too etc.

So whats out there? Just had a quick look on the Planet X site and they have what I assume is the new Pompino for £100 which is perfect price but only in small (5’8″, think I’d need a medium although there doesn’t seem to be a height guide on the PX website!) and rim brake only.

Anything else? Or do I keep an eye open for an old Roadrat (had one of them before and it was ace), Pompino, Genesis Day One etc?

Lots of Cross-Check’s around on eBay. I’m biased, because I have one, but it’s a wonderfully versatile thing.

Came to suggest an old roadrat but looks like that’s not entirely necessary. Still going to do it anyway.

Roadrat.

My town bike is a supremely tatty old Genesis Day One built up from the parts bin as a flat bar single speed with pizza rack, dynamo hub, and v-brakes.

I love it! I suspect any similar steel bikes would be just as good, but if it gets stolen I will replace it as soon as I can with another one.

Van Dessel Country Road Bob is what I use as a tracklocross get around bike.

May be able to find one cheap on Facebook/eBay?

I’d love to upgrade my Il Pompino to the disc brake version, but they only ever did the Pompinette or whatever it was called for a brief period.

Plus I fancy getting something a tiny bit smarter,

For a town bike? What about a ratty old bike noone wants to steal?

Cheapest 90’s hardtail you can find with disk mounts and a 700c wheel bodged in with a chain tensioner?

Or a new fork?

Not bitter about my bikes that have been nicked in the past. No at all

Not that ‘cheap’, or steel but heavily discounted and fulfils your other criteria (courtesy of the PSA thread):

https://www.lyonequipment.com/bikes/bikes-frames/salsa-stormchaser-frameset__3194

Or just get a secondhand Dawes Galaxy frame off eBay / marketplace. It’ll probably outlast you.

I was hoping the updated Pompino would have disc’s & 40mm+ tyre clearance as I’d have snapped one up.

Not that ‘cheap’, or steel but heavily discounted and fulfils your other criteria (courtesy of the PSA thread):

https://www.lyonequipment.com/bikes/bikes-frames/salsa-stormchaser-frameset__3194

Or just get a secondhand Dawes Galaxy frame off eBay / marketplace. It’ll probably outlast you.

Looks awesome but about 7x more than I wanted to pay and far too posh to leave at the station 😀

Spa cycles audax mono ? Certainly theft proof.

Just picked up a complete Specialized Langster from eBay for about £100, looks barely used so feeling very smug about my bargain! Not sure it’ll fit gravel tyres though and doesn’t have disc mounts, but they’re great bikes and seem to go really cheap, usually under or around £200. I believe they did a steel version too. Might see if I can fit some tyres with a bit of tread on them for towpaths, but my main use will be road anyway so not too fussed.

The disc brake Pompino was called the Pompetamine.