Mountain Biking - new to the game and need a bike

hey all...im a beginner and am looking for a bike. I only what to buy a beginner bike for around 3 to 400. I know right now that I want a bike that I can upgrade later but I don’t know were to start. I am mostly going to use it to commute to work and go around the neighborhood...later on down the road(like a year or so) I want to hit the trails but that is when I get in better shape. I am open for suggestions...can anyone help?

Just about any manufacturer has an entry level bike out there. The first thing to do is check out www.bikesrnottoys.com and educate yourself a bit between a shop quality bike and an X-Mart bike. Then just visit as many Local Bike Shops (LBS's) as possible. Test ride several different bikes from all the manufacturers. Each manufacturer builds their bikes with slightly different geometries. The components at each price point will be nearly the same.

The biggest factor when buying a bike are comfort and looks. Components can be upgraded and swapped so don't let that be such a big emphasis. Comfort, well because if you're not comfortable, you won't ride. And Looks, because no one wants an ugly bike!

L8R

You've got alot of choices in that price range:
Kona Lanai & Fire Mountain($), Specialized Hardrock (couple models), Trek 4500 + 4300 + 4100, GaryFisher Marlin($), Giant Yukon & Rincon & Iguana($), etc...

I Saw A Khs Fxttrail 03 At Jenson Usa For 399.it Seems To Be A Good Starter That Has A Frame That Is Upgradeable If You Are Willing To Buy On The Web.khs Has A Good Reputation I Am Told.it May Be Worth At Least Checking Into For A Reference.i Have Been Told Spend No Less Than A Grand For Full Suspension But For Your Riding Style This May Be A Good Deal

my computer sent that reply way stupid looking dadburned keyboard keeps changing from upper to lower case when i send.that was a KHS FXT TRAIL 03

Check out WalMart. They sell alot of bikes to your type...

Get a bike at a lbs.

Just some information.

http://www.bikesrnottoys.com

Don't get a bike from walmart, zellers or canadian tire. Or k-Mart. I bot a bike from zellers (2nd bike, I got it when I was 8 and used it till I was 12) it was rugged, but extremely heavy and the gears didn't shift well. The I made another mistake, buying from canadian tire. I jus got my bike 2 weex ago and now it's in repair and they don't even repair bikes during the winter!! Go to ur lbs, who will repair quickly, provide great service and dedication. Though they may be pricier, the service is definetly worth it. Try a Specialized Hardrock, I heard they are really great for begginers.

Why wait until you're in shape to ride trails? You'll be missing the best part of mtn biking. Here we have a big group who rides (or at least starts rides) together. There are all ability levels from expert racers to true beginners and everyone is always welcome. The rides always break apart with the front guys doing the hammer-fests and there's always someone who isn't feeling "on" who rides in the back with the newbies. I'm usually somewhere in the middle unless the fast people break down and I can catch up with them. And the worse thing a beginner can do is not go, because everybody was a beginner at one time and all but the snoots understand that, and most of them are somewhere else on road bikes anyway heheh.

To answer your question, a friend of mine owns a bike shop in a college town. His biggest selling bikes are the ones in your price range, so go to a bike shop and ask questions, they will have something to fit your needs...