Originally Posted by DMN
I would suggest (and all this is a suggestion) that you keep hold of the crossroads and use it for on road and get a nice Hardtail for off road use. A hard tail will teach you a lot about being a better rider. Have a read through the "Around $500 bike thread", it may give you some ideas.
Thanks for the help.
Obviously what $500 can buy me is not what it will buy someone else since I work at a bike shop, but thing is I'm pretty limited to only buying Giant. So should I just get a lower hardtail like the Rincon or get their top of the line Rainer? Also why would you be against getting a full suspension?