650b Road plus (Whut?) commuter/tourer -

So, with the GT pretty much done (Carradice turned up yesterday) its time to start on a new project. I'd planned to build a HHSB of some description but then realised that I already have something similar and I don't ride that a lot at the moment anyway. I'm also doing some much longer rides and would like something a bit comfier, but still with quite a low front end as I can't get on with the meerkat head-in-the-air stuff that seems all the rage at the moment. Also, the Grade covers the geared long distance stuff quite well so what I blatantly need is a single-speed version of it for no other reason than SS/fixed bikes always look better than gears.

As I've got older, I've started to realise that I can't be doing with spending millions on a custom frame and fancy components as I just start getting precious about stuff and end up never riding it. Therefore whilst custom for the frame would be nice, it doesn't make a lot of sense on something that'll either get flattened by a taxi or nicked by some scrote.

Anyway, I could (already have) waffle on for ages with the back story, but my requirements come down to this

Horizontal dropouts
Plenty of bottle/rack bosses
The ability to run 650b road plus tyres
Discs
27.2 seat post

Pomp can't run 650b tyres so thats out, although would have been my first choice for much cheapness. My brother has recently done quite a bit of work for Cotic so he recommended the Road Rat. The new version looks quite cool although it does have some funky lengths on the top tube side of things. I've dropped an email as to replicate my road fit I'd be looking at a small frame. I'm 6ft2..Anyway, I want a black frame but they don't do black. They do do (do?) Gloss gunmetal though which looks ok so I'll maybe go with that.

Wheels and tyres - I want the WTB Horizons with the cool tan walls. They look mega on the million dorra Open below, so I'm sure they'll look just as cool on a £350 steel single speed. However they're not in stock anywhere that I can find, so I may have to go with Compass switch hills instead in a meaty 48mm flavour.

Other stuff I've yet to think about but it'll be Thompson finishing kit cos I like it, and a Fabric saddle because it suits my fat arse. It'll have a rack, possibly some guards and it'll definitely have brakes. Which ones I'm not yet sure.

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Look at the Cotic Escapade - But the older version with the Horizontal Dropouts.

Cotic are selling off said older model at a lower price - plus it has a 60mm (as opposed to 70mm) BB drop - making it better suited to smaller wheels

https://www.alpkit.com/products/wtb-horizon-tcs-650x47

Nicely! Will have a look at that then as that could be just what I need.

Found the horizons on...the WTB site. Surprise! $69 dorra which doesn't sound too bad. Until they slap on duty of course...Thanks BREXIT!

Scrap the above - cheers Andy. Tyres bought!*

(*well, about to be**)

(**GAH out of stock)

I have a grade as geared bike an a pinnacle arkose SS for rough stuff. It may take 47mm 650b

Hmm wonder if the grade would take 650b then? Might buy the wheels and tyres first and try it out...

The Bombtrack Outlaw has pretty much everything you want, not sure if it takes mudguards or not

Also not a lot of mounts

Grade won't fit the 47mm tyres, I've got the 42mm Gravel Kings on mine and they just* fit. Also, low bb is no problem; 650bx47 is about the same height as 700x28.

*only 2mm each side on a measured 42mm wide PGK

Looked at Genesis Vagabond?

Its not a hard brief but if you cant find anything then get something made from one of the polish builders? Cheapest/heaviest tubing.