serious road cyclist looking to get into mt riding for fun and bike handling improvement. i will probably ride once or twice a week, XC/singletrack type stuff looks most enjoyable to me. so, i have some money i can go up or down a little in price, but i love to be on the super-cheap tip, and i'm starting to save up for a 4000dollar recumbent trike to have for tours with the wife. but here are the choices i've kind of narrowed it down to.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/1608670381.html

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/195...lloy-Frame.htm

surly 1x1 (or maybe karate monkey or pugsley.. geez they have too many cool frames)

i think i'm settles on 26 over 29 because there are more options for parts, and because i'm so used to 700c i kind of want a change just for the hell of it. what i'm looking for from all you is: are the surlys enough better to warrant the extra price. what i would really like to avoid is the following responses: "i have frame X and i like it. don't know anything about the others." and "what you want is stupid. buy this totally different style of bike instead." i'm trying to narrow down the choice based on comparative value.

thanks for any consideration and help.