Thanks for all the feedback.

- Definitely looking for a brand sold by bike shops and not just the big box stores. I'd rather keep looking for an older, better quality bike in good shape than a newer piece of imported junk.

- The $300 price point is a stab in the dark. I'll spend more if necessary.

- Thanks for the extensive feedback, Kartek. That Specialized bike is appealing. Just not sure if it could handle knarly trails. Being a beginner, I won't start there, but may eventually be hitting them.

- The phone number for the Columbia, SC CL add has an Atlanta area code. I suspect the seller is broadcast advertising, but I'll call him later anyway.

- The doc and I didn't specifically discuss mountain biking. I'm in pretty good shape for having passed 53 times around the sun. But I know my limitations. I specifically remember being about 8 years old and falling out of a tree from about 10 feet and landing flat on my back. Knocked the piss out of me, but within 10 minutes I was back up in that same tree with no after affects. Now, I feel like I could sneeze and tear cartilege.

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Behind every great man is a great woman. Behind every great woman is a great behind.