Daily/Commuter

Hi,

I'm after a bit of general advice/opinion.

For the past 3+ years I've been using an old Langster (2003 poo-brown one) as my daily - to/from station - and, my route to/from the station involves going through the local town centre which is cobbled. This used to be fine, but over the years the gaps in the cobbles have got wider and the number of loose blocks has increased which on skinny wheels with 23mm tyres is becoming more precarious (even more so in the dark and rainy months).

I've looked into fitting bigger tyres but the largest I could get in (without removing the brakes) is a 25mm - and that's still not gonna offer much confidence on the cr4ppy road surfaces!

So, my thinking is to get hold of an mtb or CX bike that can run a decent width tyre. I don't need/want anything flash (or retro £££!) - just something innocuous that wouldn't get a second look from an opportunist bike thief.

My Langster is single speed so I don't need gears - but would I notice much difference running a 26" wheel (if I got an older mtb)?

Open to suggestions!

Cheers,

Mike

26 with some bigger tyres will be much nicer on the cobbles.

Are these sorts of gaps only an issue for the front wheel? If so, what about finding a fork with more clearance, maybe even a disc brake fork?

Otherwise, here is a plug for a SS/FG hyrbid frame I've got going..
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/385111/

Hadn't thought of changing the fork - but yeah, front tyre is the issue as I've had the wheel go into a gap between some loose stones and I've been ejected involuntarily lol!

On One Pompino/Mulo if you still fancy singlespeed/fixed? I can fit 38c tyres and guards in mine with some Brother gravel forks up front.

Honestly just buy a cheap MTB if you don't ride that far from the station.

Or get a Riverside.

There's a lot of love for the pompino on this site. Not really sure I understand why they. I did find a 26 inbred frame on the local ads, and a 29 inbred (but not so local)

Anyone know if this is an inbred or pompino? It's a 26" wheel frame

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Mech hanger suggests inbred

Thanks, apparently there are different versions with different dropouts too (horizontal or vertical). I think where the chain stays meet the seattube (higher up) is unique to the inbred - the pompino is at the same height

If you swap the brakes out for apex or some wider tektros you can get a pair of 30c in there easily.

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If you liked the Langster, you could move most of the parts over to a Tricross frame?

Or maybe put flat bar on? It make it easier to ride off the beaten path even with 28mm tyres giving more control

So, my thinking is to get hold of an mtb or CX bike that can run a decent width tyre. I don't need/want anything flash (or retro £££!) - just something innocuous that wouldn't get a second look from an opportunist bike thief.

This sort of thing is ideal. I recently swapped commuters for the same reason - was spending too much time with my eyes watching out for the road surface instead of looking where I was going. I'm running a retro rigid frame mtb with smooth 2.3" tyres and drop bars, with a frankenstein groupset of Shimano 105, cross cranks and retro cantis. It rides like a road bike tbh, just a little bit slower and has the ability to smash over anything in front of you with no repercussions.