Hiya,

Mrs Kiwi is looking for a new bike, and I’d like to get some suggestions as to what’s out there that might fit the bill. Her current bike is ancient: a 12-year-old Marin Rift Zone that’s had various upgrades over the years. She’s 1m68 tall and is looking for a bike that climbs really well and feels safe and composed on the downs, rather than one that requires a lot of rider input. She’s definitely more interested in a bike at the ‘cross-country’ end of the market.

While we were out in New Zealand she got to ride a Merida 120, and really liked that – so that is the bike to beat. We’ve organised a demo ride on a Whyte T130, but that might be more towards the ‘Enduro’ end of the market than she’s really looking for. Any more suggestions?