Homegrown is best!! One of the best things about Merida is that despite the massive scale of our manufacturing, we talk directly to the key people. In 2019, a few UK customers met our MTB Product Manager Rey and over a few beers, they defined their wish list for a perfect UK bike - a trail-focused 29er with a 140mm fork, 1 x transmission, Boost standard bolt-through axles, and a dropper post. Then it was over to Rey, a very handy rider, to develop the ideas into a workable bike.The slack enduro-inspired 65.5° head angle and 140mm fork delivers a fun, confidence-inspiring bike. The long reach and short seat tube give plenty of space to maneuver on the bike and a really low stand over height. We use long dropper posts to achieve the short seat tube.An advantage of the geometry is that, depending on your riding style, most sizes work for most body sizes. The only question is if you want to go crazy fast or super agile. For speed, take the longer size; for agility, take a shorter size.The Big Trail 500 combines our new frame with a Rock Shox Recon Silver fork and a 1 x 11 Shimano Deore drivetrain. Enjoy the trails with the Merida Big Trail 500 in Black/Grey.