trying to specify what type of rider I am so i can find a bike to suit my needs. I ride lots of paths, where I live we have no beastly downhill courses, just easy decent with some not to huge drops. I do some jumps if I come across them. thats all i got for now

Don't worry about it. Ride and enjoy...If it is xc, fr or whatever, its all biking.

Sounds like you're a XC rider. Since you do "hit" some jumps, this is still XC as most bikes can handle some small jumps. However, if you start hitting gaps and a DJ course, then your XC won't be up to the task. However at this point you'll know what you need.

It sounds like you're more of what I call an "Aggro XC". Maybe we should coin the phrase and call it "AXC".

Mostly XC, but you need a bike that'll take some punishment!

L8R

you know I remember when they had a term for that AXC sort of thing. I think it was "Mountain Bike" but then they came up with all these different styles.

You need a trail bike. 4 to 5" of travel front and rear.

Look at the Yeti ASX, Specialized Enduro or the Kona Coiler or Dawg, for FS and look at the Specialized Rockhopper, Gary Fisher Tassajara or the K2 ZED series for a hardtail

I was liking Jamis XTL 1

or the trek fuel 90