I've been doing some consumer research to decipher which mountain bike I should buy. I would like to start riding XC/Trail and entering some races from time to time just for fun, but I'm not sure which one of these bikes offers the best bang for the buck for my purposes. I don't really care if it's HT or FS (so please don't debate that here). I just want the best quality bike for the price so I can upgrade as I get more competitive without having to purchase a whole new ride. Which one of these bikes do you guys suggest I get:
Kona Cinder Cone
http://www.konaworld.com/shopping_ca...3&parentid=253
Norco Rival
http://www.norco.com/ts/pass/norco06...ival&col=black
Iron Horse Maverick Elite Performance Exclusive
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/....cfm?SKU=21236
Specialized Hardrock Comp Disc
http://bikemart.com/itemdetails.cfm?...gId=39&id=1874
Thank you very much for your help! I'll remember your names when I'm on the podium.
