I read a great post over on mtbr (in the Beginner's section) that talked about a couple of guys who took a couple of Wal-mart bikes out on the trail. The WM bikes did everything they could wish for. What matters most is you get out there, even if it means starting with a bike that is not all the rage.

When I first went out a few years ago I went out on a circa 1990 GT heavy steel frame "mountain bike" that was wayyyy to big for me, but I loved that it was too big for me because it made me feel more confident. I just crashed into logs with that thing. It only had 26 tires but because the frame was big I felt taller.

Then I went and bought a used Specialized rockhopper 26er a couple of years ago and it did not really improve my abilities any. I'm just closer to the ground when I fall!

I hesitate to "move up" to a 29er because I really thing my 26er does a great job with cornering and climbing, and that's most of the battle on my local trails (which are rooty, pricker-bush laden twisty singletrack.) The one thing a 29er can do better? Going over stone walls and big drop offs. I won't even attempt those. But, I'm still a beginner.

Sometimes I wish I had the old GT back, though. I felt pretty fearless with that big guy.