After a bike hiatus (law school -- go figure) I got back on a bike in 1996, with a Cannondale Stupid V -- about 32 pounds of boing going uphill, but really stable downhill. Then I built up an Amp Research B4, so I could ascend as well. That served me well , if a little unreliably, until I built up an Intense Tracer, the best full suspension bike ever! During all of this full suspension riding, I also built up some hardtails: Kona Kula; Spooky Pit Boss, and -- still my favorite -- the 21 pound Litespeed.