one possiblity is that your mountain riding style and needs have changed too! I'm not trying to tell you what to do, not at all...it's just good to educate oneself to as many possibilites as you can. My first mountain bike, I loved but I outgrew the geometry by increasing my ability as a rider. For me, a much more agressive geometry was the answer. When you say that the bike doesn't free right anymore, that's what I think of.

I am a curious person, I like to explore the possibilites. I tend to take all marketing material with a grain of salt, and ask a lot (too many <g>) questions. I also tend to think aloud here at TE.
One should make the final choice on what feels right, and not what some promotional literature or magazine says will work. Sure, trust the experts... to a point.

Anyway, time to fo pack for NORBA.

Irulan