If you are going to be riding on long island, a full suspension bike will be overkill. If you aren't into the high zoot gear then I would just stick with a hard tail. I've been riding these trails for years on a single speed hard tail 26er with no trouble, though I have recently gotten a geared 29er hardtail. I think I would get bored on a full suspension out here. You don't really do enough braking out here to need hydraulics, but they are still much nicer than mechanical brakes. Good luck.
Last edited by mihlbach; 07-03-11 at 03:42 AM.