I had a feeling that was going to be the answer! LOL But you guys make total sense.

"Are you thinking of doing much off-road, technical type ridings? Or just using it to goof around on and do gravel roads or trails?"

I am more of the second type - goof around, gravel roads and trails. I will often have two children in tow on the MB....

So would the low end Trek be sufficient? I saw this one:

http://bikecatalog.bikeworld.com/atb.php?id=83

And one that was around $349 or $369 (still Trek brand) That one may have been the 3700 WSD....

What other brands besides the Gary Fisher and the Scott?