Anyone got a Dean colonel?
Yes. In SS specific build, manufactured for me in 2003.
The rear triangle is built pretty stiff (as Norton says). It is a beatifully made frame and the stiff back end suits my single speed needs. It's not built flexi-light but can still be built up fast if required [fast is outside my capabilities!]
Would it do as an only bike?
Sorry, don't understand the question… 8)
IMO Dean make some of the nicest frames out there. I just happen to have two of them 😀 They are a good company to deal with but are notoriously famous for not meeting delivery dates. Stupid thing is, their actual delivery dates are quite reasonable, it's just that they tell you, for example, 4 weeks when in reality it'll take, say, 12 weeks! The guys that work there are cyclists and I believe that comes across in their work. I also have an old Litespeed and an IF, both of which ride differently. The Deans are up there with IF in build quality.
EDIT: having just read post above, mine is NOT the x-lite. I weigh over 15 stone 😕