Well this is certainly a timely thread for yours truly. I finally decided the best way to get back into cycling was to get an inexpensive hardtail and some semi-slick tires and get after it. My LBS doesn't carry Specilized and all I've been reading on here lately is how Treks suck and Hardrocks rule, yada yada yada, so I was wondering if I was screwing up going with a 3700 or 4300 or some such. I think now I'm finally at peace. Now I just need a few hundred bucks.