When mountain biking became popular in the late 80's, there was an assumption that folks would ride UP a hill as well as down a hill. Some folks would take off into a national park or forest, and ride hundreds of miles. So, for a while, the trend was toward bikes that were relatively light and well balanced.

The Trek 930 of the mid-90's was part of that "school" of mountain biking. Tough, yet light steel components that could take a beating year after year. Light enough to ride long distances off road. A fine bike.

After that, the mountain bike industry got interested in downhill, dual suspension, carbon frames, lots and lots of "marketing" ideas that added weight, or complexity, or cost to mountain bikes. A light, strong, affordable steel frame mountain bike does not fit the industry's profit oriented marketing...sad, because those were the best bikes for riding UP a hill.