.bike of the month is, as the name suggests, a monthly feature on bikes we have seen, or bikes that you own, that are particularly interesting for one reason or another - they needn't be the fastest, or the shiniest, or the prettiest, so send your suggestions to botm@citycycling.co.uk

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I have to admit a vested interest in this month's bike of the month. I have a Planet-X Kaffenback frame sitting waiting for my birthday at the start of next month, and I just can't wait to get my hands on it.

The reasons it was requested are simple. I needed a geared road bike to tackle the Bealach Na-Ba challenge in September, even I'm not foolhardy enough to attempt that one with a fixed wheel. And it's damned cheap (just £90 for the frame from On-One bikes - basically the same company as Planet-X).

For that money you hve to deal with a sometimes cantankerous Brant at On-One, but if that's the only drawback then I'll be happy (and since it's a present I didn't even have to do that). The frame is a simple steel design, a geared version of the On-One Il Pompino which has such a huge following - but the paintjob is arguably just that little bit classier.

And this bike will be so much more than a lightweight sportive machine, with every component being chosen so that this can at a moment's notice become a tourer with the simple addition of a rack on the back.

It's certainly a bike that can handle the dual roles (after all, it is for going to the Cafe and Back), and more. Pop over to the On-One website if you want to see more.