1) the Trek fuel Jr is a good spot, although it seems we have to buy it before we can try it…
2) i’d seen the Norco Fluid, it looks almost perfect, but there’s no uk stock of the XS.
3) Kona, right, good spot. we’ll check them out.
4) no 29ers, they just don’t work at that size.
5) no 4x/slopestyles bikes, they’re too heavy, and the geometry is weird. (sorry, yes ‘we’ will consider them, but with very little/no demo available this will likely be a purchase in the dark…)
6) There are some xs Giant options, but all the ones i’ve seen have a press-fit BB, which would mean my wife won’t be able to use cranks that fit (165’s are miles too long). if the cranks don’t fit her, the bike doesn’t fit her.
so. Trek, Kona, hunt the Norco. good, thanks everyone!