mountain bike suggestions

I can tell you not to get a mongoose from walmarks...about as much experience as I have

I bought a Motobecane from an online place called Sporty Mama. Doesn't look like they are in business any more but there is a place that is very similar called Bike Island. It cost me about $450, free shipping. Great bike for the money. If you buy online you have to be very careful about sizing.

I know - "support your local bike shop" and I have some sympathy for that. Just not $250 worth of sympathy.

One thing I found to be interesting - an article I read said that most bikes now come from 2 or 3 Asian megafactories that build most of the brands. Not sure how true that is but I'm not sure that brand loyalty would make any kind of sense any more.

ETA - It's a Motobecane 600HT. I'm 6 foot even and the 21 inch frame I bought fits nicely.

Well, Gary Fisher got bought out by trek a couple years ago. Now they are Trek - Gary Fisher edition bikes.

IMO don't go with the Gary Fisher edition Treks. Just stick with Trek.

Basically, they take 2 equal bikes, one is a Trek and one is a Trek Gary Fisher edition, and they slap 2 different prices on them. GF edition being much more expensive for nothing.

I have 2 Gary Fishers from the last year they were made before being bought out, and I'll be sticking with Trek with my next bikes, but they won't be GF editions.

ETA : for just getting back into riding, don't waste your money on full suspension (useless on this terrain) and if you're in Louisiana (I'm pretty sure you are) you don't need disc brakes.

Check my edit. Full suspension is really a waste with this terrain in Louisiana.

Also, be careful online. I recommend walking into a shop. Capital City Cyclery is very well priced IMO and do a great job with services.

BTW, right now the 2012's just came out at a place like CCC, so the 2011's are 20-25% off.

That motobecane is OK. The thing is this, If you don't get full suspension and/or disc brakes you can still spend 500-600$ on a bike that will have much much better components and a lighter frame.

600$ for a full suspension with disk brakes is not really going to be a quality bike.

600$ for a hard tail without disc brakes will be less technical, but will be a high quality bike.

Don't know much about them. I've done all my business with CCC off of staring in BR, and they are unbelievably helpful, knowledgable and friendly.

That's a nice bike boy, is that thang a huffy?

How's the Trek 3700 Disc? Seems like a good price $499

Not a bad bike. I would go with the Trek 4500 for a couple hundred more though.

Having purchased a number of bikes locally through the years, I would recommend stopping into Pedal Play on Perkins before you settle on anything.

CCC does have a decent selection, and I have purchased an entry level Trek hardtail and a Giant Rainier from them. However, I have not found any of their staff to be helpful in fitting you for a bike. So you really need to know what size you need before you go.

My last two bikes were purchased from Pedal Play. Bought a Kona Kikapu and was thoroughly impressed with how well they worked with me to get the right size and fit. The difference in a bike that fits and one that doesn't is night and day. A few months later I went and bought a road bike from them- same thing, they took measurements and made sure everything was fitted properly.
Not sure if it is still open, but Dirt Road bikes off Jones Creek would be another place to check out. And of course CCC is right there on Jones Creek as well.

Craigslist is a good place to look used, as well as the BRAMBA website. Good luck