I'm on the lookout for a nice steel hardtail frame for the wife for kiddie transporting/bike packing duties. She is 5'6" so looking at a small/16" frame.
I love my Swift so am looking at the Singular Hummingbird. It would most likely set up 26" with 100m forks for a bit of comfort.
So my question is to those who have ridden them, how did you find them in 26" guise?
Any other frames I should be looking at for the above duties?
Any one have a small Hummingbird or similar for sale?
Cheers all
You could pop a wanted ad in the classified, but Singular kit doesn't seem to come up often.
Wheelsports.de have a single, small Swift frame available; I don't know whether 27.5 plus wheels would work for the build you have in mind for your wife if 29" is too much. Unfortunately Swift forks are no longer available (I'm on the lookout for one) and the next batch will be tapered and you might struggle to find a straight steerer sus. fork.
Singular should have a new product lineup in the Spring and there might be something interesting there (it might be worth asking Sam if it's worth waiting).
5'6" ain't short so is the 26" requirement for parts bin reasons? I know of two 5'1" women who happily ride 29ers for this kind of thing.
You could also look out for original inbreds, souls, etc. should be a lot cheaper and more common than a hummingbird too.
Singular kit doesn’t seem to come up often.
But what do I know? - Gumtree
5’6″ ain’t short so is the 26″ requirement for parts bin reasons? I know of two 5’1″ women who happily ride 29ers for this kind of thing.
While true... there is an added benefit for running 26 (at least a the back) for us short arses, and that's the room it leaves for a seatpack if you are bikepacking. Big wheels do significantly reduce the amount of room back there if you don't have the saddle very high.
You could also look out for original inbreds, souls
^ that was going to be my suggestion, older Souls pop up cheap, and Inbreds are practically given away but ride very well, the Singular is nice but they don't pop up very often, that one on gumtree is probably only the 2nd one I've seen for sale in the last 12 months.
Thanks for the replies chaps...
Wanted 26" so I can just transfer parts over. Also small frames and out back kiddie seats don't play nice with 29" wheels.
An Inbred or Soul was my first thought but wanted something a little posher, for no reason really... The Hummingbird popped up because I have a Swift and love it.
Tried a wtd ad but no joy.... Who even goes to the classifieds now after the powers that be took the great decision to mess with the format? I guess small frames are rarer to....
I'll keep hunting.... But if anyone has a 16" steel hardtail frame drop me a message.
Ta
An Inbred or Soul was my first thought but wanted something a little posher
The Singular is rarer than the Cotic, but I'd (owner of both brands) not say posher, and Inbreds although common as muck and cheap as chips really do ride very well. Souls do pop up fairly frequently.
You could also look out for an old Sanderson, or even look out for older 26in Ti frames? Airborne's and Globals pop up from time to time at sensible prices, I've had two Airbornes and they were ace as old school 26in XC bikes.
“An Inbred or Soul was my first thought but wanted something a little posher”
The Singular isn’t half as posh as a Soul, it’s made of less strong and thus heavier cheaper steel, whilst the Soul is mostly Reynolds 853.
would a 14" inbred frame be too small, I might know someone with one for sale, little used.
I have a pristine Rocklobster complete bike but its an AL frame in 15". One of my kids had ridden it very few miles and outgrown it now. Comes with light wheels, SIDS, Middleburn cranks. Drop me a line if interested. Having clear out in the New Year.
As an owner of several Hummingbirds (steel and Ti) I would say that they are at their best used with the 55mm offset rigid forks and a 29” front wheel, although my wife does have one with Magura Marta 130mm forks and 26” front wheel. That’s a small frame but she’s only 5’ 4”.
