Thank you Kpicha- that's just the dirt I was looking for on the Klein. I read the spec and wasn't real impressed. If I went with the Palomino it would be the frame and then appoint it properly myself. I think the parts are crap; I'd want manitou or Marzocchi and a Sachs drivetrain. I know about taking the test ride- and taking a measuring tape to the frame. I also beleive in love at first ride My Z bike is from the days when Gary Turner still ran the company and is still a great ride. One just needs a new toy...
The Santa Cruz et al bikes aren't carried around around here- I think I need to road trip and see something new.

Thanks for the tip melissam- except you can't even get a bike rag in this town! Good excuse to roadtrip to another city.
Mardi Gras is not survived; It's for diving into and swimming hard for days! I weaseled my way into a parade on Ugly Bike heading downtown and had a glorious ride with crowds yelling at me- until some dumb kid threw beads in my drivetrain and I got chainsucked in THREE places and had to pull a muddy greasy rear end apart. Missed the whole downtown scene. Oh well.

Lizzy