29er's, Felt Nine Sport or Merida Big Nine, HELP!!

SPOODZILLA

All,

Insurance replacement, these are the 2 I can have before christmas. Cant make a descision to save my life, and cant find a shop with these in to have a go.

Merida: http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p51464/Merida ... -2012.aspx

Felt: http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p49302/Felt-N ... -2012.aspx

Theres £100 difference between them which i'll pad with accessories. On paper the more expensive Merida has better components in pretty much every area (shimano chainset v suntour, deore & xt drivechain vs alivio, shimano brakes vs tektro, shimano hubs vs generic) except the fork, which is a SR XCR, vs a Rockshox XC28 on the Felt. Not a huge difference though. I love the look of both of them, except the meridas flat handlebar and super short stem. Can be upgraded I suppose!

Can someone please give me some opinions on either the bikes or the manufacturers in general? Got to pick one in about an hour. If it helps, bike will be used for xc, and commuting on 50/50 towpath/swamplike forest :-)

THanks!

cooldad

By 9.40? Oh well too late now.