After a long period of procrastination over brands, specs and weight it was finally time to strike and procure the steed for this season.

First stop was a shop in Manly - courteous but no 2014 small frames in stock and none would come in either. How strange is that? It is february 2014 with another 10 months to go and its sold out?

Second stop was a shop in North Sydney that sells Merida as the Big Ninety Nine 3000 D was on the list. I've seen online that the 2013 model was around so I asked them if there were any 2013 small frame available.