As per the advice of
@greencat and
@Tootyred I've put together some more specifics which help might guide anyone thinking about selling. Sizing needs to be rideable, so can't really consider anything under 19" centre to top.
If someone also wants to consider a deal of cash and a 2016 Commencal Meta AM v4 in trade
link here, then that's also on the cards. As everyone knows, the second hand bike market is incredibly flat, so it's been sat in my garage waiting to be sold. I think there's a value of around £400-£500 within it. I noticed at the weekend that it has a sticky rear caliper, but remains unridden since I first posted the ad on here.
I am very partial to catalogue (or close to) specs or something that feels right, i.e British components on a British frame, US components on a US frame, bars matching stem etc. Full groupsets as well preferred, though if there's a bling set of cranks I'm game for that
. XTR, XT, DX, XC Pro, XC Pro MD, XC Comp MD are all good as I appreciate some frames command more. I'm not expecting NOS XTR or anything and know that I might have to cut my cloth accordingly!
All early to late 90s considered and I would also consider other frame materials than steel if it's something a little out of the ordinary or rare, like an Orange Aluminium O, though I'm a little wary about shelf life. I'm not a huge GT or Kona fan, so those can probably be struck off the list
. Trek is also out unless it's an 8900 composite as they are cool as.
These are some makers I can think of which I've always admired, though I accept most, if not all, are out of my price range so I'm not sure what value they add. I've been sent a couple of high-end steel Marins too and they tickle my fancy:
Zinn, Dekerf, Brodie, Roberts, Yeti, Mantis, Orange, Ritchey, Bontrager, Cannondale
PS. I know not all of these are steel but just bike brands I've always liked!