Mountain Biking - The right bike for trails is....?

Greetings guys..
I'm a roadie that is interested in some trailing... but no hucks or stunts..
Just through lots of dirt and branches... and maybe the odd 3ft drop.. nothing huge..

I really want a Scalpel Frameset [looks nice... ], what kind of parts should I hook it up with?

Thanks
-Peter

everyone [most] would say go with sram, but I am going to go ahead and say lx or xt would be good for the shifter/derailler stuff. You might look into race face or truvativ stuff for cranks and maybe easton for the bars and stems and posts. And marzocchi for the fork. That would would be how I would build one up. I don't much like cannondale but that scalpel seems pretty sweet.

Greetings guys..
I'm a roadie that is interested in some trailing... but no hucks or stunts..
Just through lots of dirt and branches... and maybe the odd 3ft drop.. nothing huge..

I really want a Scalpel Frameset [looks nice... ], what kind of parts should I hook it up with?

Thanks
-Peter
I would just go with an average Specialized Rockhopper of stump-jumper. It is too easy to miss the point of mountain biking by worrying about the thermo-plastic chainstays snapping while falling through the air off of a 3-foot drop, as well as the gear you are using. Save some green-backs, too.

"thermo-plastic chainstays snapping while falling through the air off of a 3-foot drop"

Wow...
Has that actually happened to a Scalpel before? That's not the intended purpose of the frame right? I mean it is XC...

Right now with the technology available in suspension design, there really isn't a BAD suspension bike. All the major manufacturer's have pretty much dialed in their designs. Some are better than others for certain characteristics, but for a relative novice who just wants to hit the dirt, there isn't a bad choice.

Go test ride as many as you can and buy the one that fits the best.

My preference are bikes that have a 4-bar Horst link type design. Think of a Specialized FSR design.

Iron Horse's DW link is very impressive, as is the new line-up from Giant.

Really, there is no "best", but currently (and luckily) there are very few "BAD" designs available.

"thermo-plastic chainstays snapping while falling through the air off of a 3-foot drop"

Wow...
Has that actually happened to a Scalpel before? That's not the intended purpose of the frame right? I mean it is XC...

All I'm saying is to get a bike that is going to be strong enough to withstand things that are found on real trails. You will encounter rocks, roots, drops, climbs, stunts and jumps, and since you are newer to the sport, you won't pick the best line always which will add more stress to the bike. The Scalpel is a very advanced bike meant for advanced riders. I would go with a more durable bike, such as an XC hardtail (make sure it is made of a metallic alloy, I know you carbon obsessed roadie types) and looks like it could take a pounding. The Scalpel's chain stays just don't look ready to take the abuse that fun, hard riding will dish out. I could be totally wrong, too.

I see where you are coming from... [carbon; good on road, bad on trails]
And I also see that you're right in me not always picking the best line.. so I should expect to take a lot of heat from the ground...
Hm... good call.. Anything with smooth tubes like the Scalpel? But no carbon chainstays..

The new line from Giant is reaallly nice

The Trance

Its beutiful