looking for a mountain bike

[tom cunningham]

The bike companies advertise lots of yearly changes making yearend close-outs easily 25% off.  Hardtails and semi hardtails represent the best value. Demo lots of them moving up the ladder and stop when you can't feel/appreciate the added cost...fun stuff.

[tom cunningham]

[Mike Mongelli]

Look for a fully rigid chromoly framed mountain bike from the 90's.  There were some great simple bikes sold back then.  Plenty of gearing to get you anywhere you want to go.  Most of those bikes had mounts for racks and fenders too.