The Big Seven is the 27.5in wheeled counterpart to the Big Nine, built for shorter riders and for anyone who would rather have a bike that flicks between turns than one that carries speed in a straight line. The 15 is the most affordable build in it. Its TFS V frame is double butted, technoformed 6061 aluminium with a tapered head tube, full internal cable routing and chain stay mounted disc brakes, and it uses the longer reach and shorter stem of the current generation rather than the cramped geometry hardtails at this price used to have.

An SR Suntour XCS28 coil fork provides 100mm of travel, and the drivetrain is a Shimano 2x7 with Altus shifters, a Tourney TY300 rear mech and a 12-32 cassette on a Prowheel chainset, which keeps the gear range broad and the servicing simple. Braking is by Shimano BR-M375 mechanical discs. Kenda K1080 tyres in 27.5x2.2 roll easily on trails and towpaths, Merida Comp CC rims with a 20mm internal width sit on Shimano hubs, and mudguard and kickstand mounts make it useful for far more than weekends.

Features

• TFS V double butted and technoformed 6061 aluminium frame
• Tapered head tube, full internal cable routing, chain stay mounted disc brake
• Trail ready geometry: longer reach, shorter stem, slacker head angle
• SR Suntour XCS28 coil fork, 100mm travel
• Shimano 2x7 drivetrain: Altus front mech, Tourney TY300 rear, 12-32 cassette
• Prowheel TM-CY10 36-22 tooth aluminium chainset
• Shimano BR-M375 mechanical disc brakes
• Kenda K1080 27.5x2.2 tyres
• Merida Comp CC rims, 20mm internal width, on Shimano TX505 and QC300-HM Centerlock hubs
• Mudguard and kickstand mounts, BSA threaded bottom bracket, 135 x 9mm rear axle
• Frame clearance for 27.5 x 2.4 tyres; fork rated to 27.5 x 2.25