This is the full-fat version of the race hardtail. The Big Nine 10K is built around the CF5 III frame, the lightest carbon in the range, with a revised design that adds fatigue-reducing compliance without giving up the stiffness a cross-country bike needs when you stand on the pedals. Boost axle spacing and a threaded BSA bottom bracket keep it straightforward to service, and tyre clearance runs to 29 x 2.4.

The groupset is Shimano XTR Di2: wireless, twelve speed, with the M9200 cassette spanning 9-45 teeth. That nine tooth top sprocket is the clever part, because it lets a 32 tooth chainring keep a properly fast top gear while still leaving something low enough for a long climb. Shifting comes from an M9250 wireless controller, so no gear cable enters the frame at all, and XTR M9220 two piston brakes give more than enough power for a bike of this weight.

A Fox 32 SC Factory fork looks after the front end, with 100mm of air-sprung travel, a 44mm offset and a two position remote lockout you can flick between climbing and descending settings without taking a hand off the bar. Wheels are Reynolds Blacklabel 309 XC Pro carbon rims with a 30mm internal width on Merida Expert TR hubs, supplied tubeless ready with tape and valves included and covered by a lifetime warranty on the rims. Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.4 WT tyres in 3C MaxxTerra with an EXO casing are the fast-rolling choice for dry, hardpacked ground.

The cockpit is an FSA SIC one-piece carbon bar and stem, 760mm wide with a -7 degree drop, which saves weight and tidies up the front of the bike considerably. A Prologo Nago R4 PAS Tirox saddle sits on an FSA SL-K carbon post, and the chain and bottom bracket are XTR M9100 and Shimano SM-BB93. There is very little left on this build that a racer would want to change.

Features

• CF5 III super lightweight carbon frame, Boost axle spacing, BSA threaded bottom bracket
• Revised frame design with added compliance and progressive geometry
• Clearance for 29 x 2.4 tyres
• Fox 32 SC Factory air fork, 100mm travel, two position remote lockout, 44mm offset
• Shimano XTR Di2 M9250 wireless rear derailleur and wireless controller
• Shimano XTR M9200 9-45 twelve speed cassette with 32 tooth XTR chainset
• Shimano XTR M9220 two piston hydraulic disc brakes
• Reynolds Blacklabel 309 XC Pro carbon rims, 30mm internal width, lifetime warranty
• Tubeless ready wheels with tape and valves included, on Merida Expert TR hubs
• Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.4 WT tyres, 3C MaxxTerra, EXO casing, tubeless ready
• FSA SIC CF one-piece carbon cockpit, 760mm wide, -7 degree
• Prologo Nago R4 PAS Tirox saddle on an FSA SL-K carbon post