i need your help
 

looking to up grade me and my wifes bikes, i have narrowed it down to the giant rainier, and the gt avalanche 1.0. both have deore grade components the only real difference is the gt has tektro auriga hydraulic disc and the giant has avid bb5 cable disc brakes. right now i am leaning towards the gt avalanche, what do you guys think?

I can't speak for the tektros (although the brand in general doesnt inspire confidence in my mind), but i can vouch for the bb5's. Im 200lbs and they stop me well enough, modulate decently, and are easy to work on. Havent been left wishing for more brake yet.

Tektro gets a bad wrap because they spec low end components on entry level bikes. However, RST does the same with thier forks but also make some nice higher end stuff apparently. Tektro's auriga brakes could be one of these cases (i dont know that, just saying).

no body else has an opinion on these two bikes ?

On the bikes or brakes? In either case, I am assuming that most people may not have experience with either. This is the first I have had heard of the Tektro brakes. I have not used them so I don't know what I can specifically add. I have not used the BB5's either, but there seems to be a love fest on here with them.

Has she riden both? It seems to be geometery may be a larger factor at this point. She will need to be comfortable on the bike.

FWIW, Tektro also makes some high-end brakes (full CF on road bikes) but is known for its lower end brakes, as mentioned above.

they both are decent bikes. ride them and buy whichever feels best for you

before any other consideration, I'd go with the bike that fits best.

As to the brakes...I have hydro's on my bike and they work great but its a pain to have to take them to the lbs when they need work

Because of this, my wife insisted on mechanical discs when we built her bike...they too work great...we can do all of the work ourselves and carry an extra cable when we're in the back country and make repairs on the fly

personnaly, I like the Giant...the new GT's are not the same as the old GT's since Pacific Cycle (Dorel) took them over...but go with the one that fits...perhaps a GT for you and the Giant for her?