Hello, I am a newly registered member of the forums, and am looking for some advice. I'm a senior highschool student, soon getting out into the real world, and as for a birthday/graduation present I'm thinking about asking for a nice bike; I'm confused about what to get though. I would like a multipurpose bike, because I would like to ride around on flat trails, and to work on the bike, but would also like to head out to the "mountains", which are more like bluffs(from Wisconsin after all, not many mountains here), so I want a bike I can take out to those spots and have fun there aswell. I'm not brand new to the sport, I used to have a Dyno Compe as a younger kid, but never really got into what I want to do now, and when I did ocassionaly try those more off-trail events, it was damn hard on the low sitting bike with no real suspension; though flying down sets of stairs was fun to do.

Basically, I want to know what I need to get/do to get into this. Obviously a bike, I was thinking a Trek; which may or may not fit me, being kind of a beginner getting a one or two thousand dollar bike; but college is comming up next year so the money to upgrade bike or just components won't really be there. What bike I need though I don't know. Looking though Trek's website I found the mountain biking section, but it splits into Hardtail and Full suspension, with each two breaking off into more sub catergories. It's just kind of confusion, so really the only thing driving me to which bike to pick it which one LOOKS the coolest/nicest, and I don't want to make faulty assumptions which are going to have me end up with a nice bike, but not for the kind of activity I plan on doing.

After all my explaning I would just more experienced members opinions on what I should do and how I should set myself up for a hobbie that will hopefully continue to be of intrest for a lifetime. Also, feel free to ask more personal question; because I hope to become more involved in the "forum community."

Thanks, Ben.