Budget probably between $1500 and $2000 for the complete bike. I'm looking for something light and fast but quite strong as I'm a bit bigger than the average rider. If the price is a bit higher then you can also recommend them. The money is not my main focus but I want something strong and fast. I've only just gotten into cycling seriously so my knowledge of the finer details and even some of the basics is still rough.
Basically just looking for idea on where to look. I've tried looking on the internet but there doesn't seem to be anything directed at just XC racing bikes and I don't have the time to trawl through all the reviews looking for the bike of my dreams. This is because of my lack of bike knowledge and I don't know the various manufacturers and what they have on offer. I have also looked at some of the sites but then again I prefer getting the info from guys who have actually thrashed the bike around a bit and can give good feedback.