I like Surly (local...i own one...i like to endorse products w/o being paid)
My friend likes his Rock Lobster
we both bought our frames and used what we had...purchased what we needed...I have a small and Medium frame Surly 1x1...both are 26"...the small frame is a fun around-town-throw-it-around bike...my medium is (was) my off-road bike.
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You know you're getting old when you look at a beautiful 19-year-old girl and you find yourself thinking, "Gee, I wonder what her mother looks like?"