Help! Steel Hardtail

So I got the go ahead to purchase a hardtail from the wife, probably this Surly Instigator. STOKED!:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7191291944

I set up a payment with the guy but I haven't heard from him in a couple of days...so got to thinking - is there any other steel hardtail out there I could get complete for a similar price ($600 or less)? Doubt it...but if'n yall have any leads. I thought about a Steelhead new but getting a build kit it'd still run me probably $1000. Aiming for a trail bike/DJ dual purpose hardtail. Oh and the reason for the OK is winter fitness...gonna use this to spin on a new trainer this winter. Thoughts appreciated!

i'll sell you my steelhead
don't know how well the 2.8 michelins will spin on the rollers though;)

edit: details:


XL frame
04 z1 dropoff 1
deore disc 36h w/ solid axles/ dt 14g/ mammoth rims
fsa pounder cranks (tubular cro mo)
tru vativ giga dh bb
50mm thosmon stem
fsa 1.5" bar, fsa 420mm post (thomson like head)
brooks professional saddle
raceface team sl HS
michelin 2.8's
paul levers
avid mechs (8" front/ 7" rear)
time atac single side pedals
odi oury grips
SS w/ 32-19T 8spd DA rear cog & guides

about 10 trail rides on it. no crashes. just a few nicks from shipping.

May have a lead on a custom Spicer here in town. It's a beefy frame that'll take 2.6s. Got an eccentric to go single or geared. My buddy bitches about it everytime he rides it cause he's used to 29ers and he won't swap out the 8 pounds of tires for something a little more reasonable on a SS. I'm checking with him, I know he's put smaller tires on since our ride last week and wants to give that a shot, but he talks about selling it often. I'll let you know if anything develops.

I can connect you with a shop that has a white 1x1 with some pretty decent shit for about 600. Size is XL. They are trying to unload the 26er's for the 29ers.

Bikeman has the 2006 Kona Explosive (which f'in rules IMHO) for $399 - full size run...
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking...N/KON-EXPLOS06

oops - sorry, didn't realize you wanted complete bike - good luck with that..

Looks like the Spicer mentioned above is indeed available for sale. PM me if you're interested in contact info for the seller.

If you end up with that Surly, I'll buy that rigid fork off of it (providing it's the 100mm geometry rigid fork from Surly).