Help me build my friend a depression-busting CX bike!

haha i'll be in corny all summer!

why dont you go sscx, that was you could even buy a new pomp and save the money from groupo?

Riding the hills here on SS would kill a new cyclist I think. Pretty sure I couldn't do it!

it may sound odd but i could get one of these:

http://apro.bikemag.hu/browse/orszaguti/vaz/muffolt-uj-tura-verseny-cyclocross-vazak-l227950.html

and send it to you. the price of the frame is £120, shipping via DPD tracked is £15. they are brand new, available in the sizes listed. they can take 48c tires plus guards. there's option for colour (metallic red, green or blue). i can also do custom colours as i have a contact that paints cars and he could do it for the price of the ingredients.

all that if steel is an option of course.

That might well work actually. Let me have a think about this and see how other parts pan out for a bit (this would, of course, need a BB and headset too). Thanks!