I agree with most of the above statements, especially that Shimano's lower MTB groups suck. Deore is def where it starts to get good. Even as a beginning rider, I would splurge and get a bike equiped with a RockShox Tora rather than the Dart 3. The Dart won't hold you back as a rider, but like most cheap forks, its basically a big spring and is heavy as hell and pretty worthless in the adjustment department. For a couple hundred bucks more you can get something that is definately raceworthy.