light weight, hand made frame in Canada, comparable to more expensive x-country bikes.

Manitou front shock, decals seem to easily peel off, and the seat is as hard as a rock.

Super light, feels fast, grips well on pavement and hardpacked trails. Climbs well too. I can see replacing the front shock and the seat soon.

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Trek 4500, Specialised Rockhopper

Feels fast, very light; it is my first very good mountain bike. I can see how, with a few upgrades, it would be ideal for racing. It also climbs well, and is very responsive on any tricky sections of single track.

The biggest weakness for me is the fork. I am a heavy rider (approx 210 lbs.) at only 5'10", and the Manitou Skareb fork is far too soft for my liking. I pumped the shock up to the max psI, but it's still too soft. I have ordered the heavier spring kit for this season, so we'll see how it does.

This is the perfect bike if you're making the transition between serious weekend riding and sport-class recreational racing. If you are looking to race expert or elite class, you will need smoother shifting than Deore componenets can offer. The fork is always a matter of personal preference, but I think the Skareb will do for most people under 190 lbs.

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Giant Yukon SE (2000 0r 2001?)

good, fast, solid ride. nice frame. not very expensive and definitely worthy of upgrades.

fork, pedals, deore hubs, deore shifters

Excellent bike that will need some upgrades to become a racing machine!Great deal!Upgrade everything in the weaknesses section and your ready to go!

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marin bolinas ridge