Mountain Biking - Please help me find a bike.

I have been bike shopping for a couple weeks and i cant seem to find the right bike. Reason for that is i dont have a clue what i want/need. I am 5'2, 115 pounds and live in a mountain town. I plan on riding my bike to work, class, and on our urban trail system around town. Occasionally i hope to take it out in the forest on designated bike trails for fun.

I'm looking for something thats not terribly heavy because i have to carry it upstairs and im not very strong haha. I would be willing to pay $500-$600 if someone could convince me... but otherwise i would like to stay around the $300 range. I'd be riding it about 5 days a week, at least 4 miles a day. Someone told me the apollo panther may be a good choice. Any advice and guidance is appreciated! :o

Trek 4300?

Can someone at least suggest what size frame i should get? I have been told everything from a 15" to a 17" i dont know what to beleive. I am 5"2 and female. tia! :)

Try a 15", 16" and 17" in the area around your bike shop, hop about a bit, ride up a hill, get used to them, just find the one that's most comfortable. Ask the guy in the bike shop which one would be best, then go to another shop and seek a second opinion.

After all that, personally... I'd go Kona :)

In your case you need to ask for one fact before buying the bike. How much does it weigh? Don't accept someone's opinion because their estimate may be incorrect. Have them weigh it with you watching. BTW, I like the 4300 recommendation.

I was looking for something in the same price range for similar use. I picked up one of the new 2007 Trek 4300's last Saturday. I would recommend it now that I've ridden it some. It's comfortable and light (my first aluminum frame) and really fun to ride. So although I can't speak to the WSD version, I like mine.

As far as size, everyone's right on. I'd go to your local shop and feel them out. When I started researching what size I needed, I read somewhere that I needed something between a 19" and 21" (I'm 6'). But when I got to the shop, I found that the 18" in this model was as tall as I was going to go. So as far as size goes, I'd recommend trying a few on and seeing how they feel.

The critical measurement is your inseam.

If you have long legs, a WSD may be right for you. If not, you may find the WSD a bit too short in the reach.

Go visit as many bike shops that you can and test ride all the different models. Trek 4300's are good, but every manufacturer makes a good bike in that price range.

Check out Gary Fisher bikes. Trek owns GF and so their specs will be similar, but the frame geometries will be different.

I'm a big fan of Specialized bikes.

I would avoid Haro bikes as they tend to be a bit overbuilt and will be heavier for you.

I gotta say, no way is a 17 gonna fit you. I'm 5-9" & I'd generally find a 17 pretty comfortable. 18 might be the ultimate depending on the bike. My wife is 5-6" and rides a 16.