[Closed] Good news - the Pompino is back

and the good news?

Rubber_Buccaneer
and the good news?

Flies over the heads of the cycling aesthetes... 🙂

is it SS?

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Thought about selling it awhile back, probably worth £100, but really enjoyed the 50 miles I did on it a couple of weeks ago.

I was excited, but disappointed by the lack of a a fixed/disk rear end and hub.

The heaviest, deadest frame I've ever owned, had absolutely no 'zing' at all, simply sucked all the enjoyment out of riding the thing - it was shame, as I had a Mk1 Kaffenback and was expecting it to ride similarly

I have a mk1 pompino and it does ride amazingly I must have ridden a hundred thousand miles on it, my wife has one of the last of the previous batch and it is terrible, I assume it was changes to meet the new safety standards, but it's dead and heavy, literally the most joyless bike I have ever ridden. A real shame.

dove biker
The heaviest, deadest frame I’ve ever owned...

I think you've mentioned this before, and it's always puzzled me because it's contrary to my experience. I think it comes down to where you ride and how you ride, a lightweight racer, it ain't. 🙂

As a single speed rider, I like a laterally stiff frame that doesn't wind up when you start cranking up steep hills. That's one of the virtues of the Pompino, your effort isn't wasted twisting the frame/stays, it's a feature not a bug IMO. I'd sooner take my Pompino SS over the Bealach na Bah than any of my lightweight SS bikes. (I've done it on both).

As for the feel of a bike, I generally regard the front fork as the place to get the "feel" sorted out. I also prefer large volume supple tyres (35mm+) over hard HP skinny tyres because because I ride a lot of Rough Stuff, so that may also be a difference.

EDIT: just seen mahowlett's post above. That could be the explanation. My Pompinos are early models. But that's probably a matter of sticking a different fork on it to sort it out.

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The skinny steel fork looks good.

I had a pompetamine that I used for many years to commute on. Loved it, think I might have washed it about once a year. It just kept going. I think i bought it off cycnic-al

Knowing O-O / P-X they probably had the first batch made in a semi-decent, butted tubing and then after that made them from 4130 gas-pipe.

Hang on, are either of those actually the "new" Pompino?

I was assuming the bottom pic was on account of the unusual fork, but it's also got a bodged headset (with canti cable mount), and a painted rear rim, and a slack chain, which makes me think it's some hispters bike, not a new product.

The top pic is one of the later versions without the 5-piece stays.

Got my fingers crossed again for an affordable disk/fixed hub.

The pics are from PlanetX FB page.

Wonder of they're going to do a frame and fork option, I've not got in trouble for buying a frame in at least three days.

Bike's not been released yet but epicyclo has written a review!

The old one was classic On One - decent steel, nothing special, not even remotely unique.

If you’re looking for a tough bike to ride on our rough roads and gravel it’s hard to get a better option.

Unless you're tall or they've expanded their geometry chart massively, because even the "XL" was tiny.

Holy toe overlap on that grey frame...

cynic-al
Bike’s not been released yet but epicyclo has written a review!

The old one was classic On One – decent steel, nothing special, not even remotely unique.

Should have made it clearer I was talking about the old one. 🙂

I admit to preferring workhorse bikes to one trick ponies though.

But the frame doesn't look much different, does it?

Dunno if the seat stay treatment will be the same though - the grey bike differs from the blue one.

Disc front, rim rear brakes and severe toe overlap... My eyes! 😮

I admit to preferring workhorse bikes to one trick ponies though

I’d go for a one trick pony over a no trick donkey

Rubber_Buccaneer
I’d go for a one trick pony over a no trick donkey

Don't worry, as a fully paid up member of the N+n fraternity, I have a shed full of one trick ponies. 🙂

Holy toe overlap on that grey frame…

I hadn't noticed that, very strange. Disk front/canti rear, no sign of rear disk mount. how odd.

Always fancied getting a pompino back in the day but bought a Genesis Day one instead. Rode that for a good few thousand miles (think I might have sold it on here).

I'm quite interested in a cheap, dropbared, fun, steel disc bike. Although I don't know of a company making drop hydro (brake only) levers and I loathe mechanical disc brakes nearly as much as having to adjust canti brakes everytime I tension the chain.

Would quite like it in the clear coat that On-one do on some of their other bikes. So it would look kinda shabby but cool like some of the cool cycle courier bikes you see sometimes.

Tyre clearance looks pretty tight for running mudguards. Odd choice.

It must have been a while a go that I last looks for ss hydro brake levers as now trp make a pair. Not sure if there any good but this has now got me thinking of getting budget ss gravel bike built up. If not a pompino then I'll just have to look elsewhere, there must be similar frame sets about.

Although I don’t know of a company making drop hydro (brake only) levers

TRP Hylex hydraulic drop bar non shift levers and post or flat mount calipers.

Just found a Trek Crocket frameset for sale that can be singlespeeded. Not cheap but looks classy in mint green.

It would be great if the likes of On-one did something similar but cheaper. I like it when On-one do stuff that's a bit different but is still affordable so you can experiment with different frames but not break the bank (I'm looking at you! surly and Salsa 😀)

I'm confused. Are those old pompino frames or new ones?

Sorry @epicyclo I know you love these frames but it's not floating my boat.

I remember the uncle John frame and forks with one disc and one rim brake. When I asked why they said because they forgot to spec it in the sheet and they made loads of them which is why they were selling them cheap.

I'll reserve judgement until I see some more details.

Surly have got silly expensive, but where else can you get the tyre clearance with guards for a commuter/utility/hack gravel bike? If that's not what the pompino is, what is it?

Just found a Trek Crocket frameset for sale that can be singlespeeded. Not cheap but looks classy in mint green.

Not cheap but worth every penny.

I use mine as a SS gravel/CX/commuter do-it-all bike. It's bloody brilliant!

Notmyrealname, just out of interest what height are you and what frame do you have?

I'm 5'11" and riding a 56cm.

Same height as me 🤔

Cheers.

You might need to be quick getting a frame, they seem to be in short supply now and the new version doesn't have sliding dropouts 🙁

I've done a poo in triggers mum's bathroom

Don't need another bike but the 'want' is strong.

Seriously, do it. They're great 🙂

I'm considering trying to get a second frame as either a spare or to update my commuter so I can have both a flat bar and a drop bar Crockett.

I had a Pompetamine, probably one of the later ones - bought it in around 2014 (+/- a year). With the Alfine hub it felt pretty dead and lifeless as @dovebiker states. When the Alfine died I bought some Giepemme (SP?) wheels from PX/OO and converted it to singlespeed. It was much, much better in that configuration. I eventually moved it on but kind of wish I hadn't.

I had Avid BB7 brakes on it, which were fine, maybe needed adjusting once a month which given I live in a hilly area isn't bad.

I'd have another singlespeed but whether it would be a Pompino I'm not sure,.

The heaviest, deadest frame I’ve ever owned, had absolutely no ‘zing’ at all, simply sucked all the enjoyment out of riding the thing

Agree, I had one for a few months many years ago and felt the same. Crap frame.

kerley
Agree, I had one for a few months many years ago and felt the same. Crap frame.

Why crap? Was it out of true, or did it break?

You have posted pics of your bike in the past. It's a lovely lightweight, and I'm sure it sets a high standard.

It's plainly obvious that the Pompino isn't a lightweight or a thoroughbred, but a hack and they were priced accordingly. It's a bit like comparing a Porsche with a pickup truck.

Whitestone made a very good point about the wheels.

That's something I hadn't considered because I always build my own, but a set of budget wheels can suck the joy out of any bike, as indeed can tyre choice.