Thanks for all the replies!
I was considering these bikes largely as the Giant and Schwinn are two of the brands the local bike shop carries. I have a good relationship with this shop and he and his predecessor have done all the work on my bikes in the 7 years we have lived up here.
I had Schwinn bikes as a kid and have always held the Giant in high regard. The Specialized line is at a bikeshop near some of the trails I ride and I have a good relationship with that shop as well.
I also looked at GT, Diamondback and Trek. he bike shop across the river (about 2 miles away has Trek and a few others. So between the 3 shops I had about 7 lines I could pick from. In my price range that is about 27 different configurations of mountain bike!
The Giant has different frame heights too, so the options available to me just with Giant is about 12 different bikes, just in my price range alone!
I suspect the more I'd look, the more I'd find that would work for my needs. I do not need to have to pick from 200 different bikes...it'd take forever!
So, I went into the closest bike shop, I went in to look at a Giant Rincon and the Sedona. I saw the Yukon and loved it immediately! The Schwinn Mesa looked good as well.
In talking with the owner he showed me the GT line, 2 of them specifically. Then I saw a Rainier sitting there. I looked it over and commented that it was a really nice bike and that I had read many good things about them. But I also commented that it was out of what I was going to spend. I intended to stay firm in my ballpark.
He said to hang on a second, grabbed a calculator and held it up after some figuring. Bill told me that it was a 2007 and he wanted to get it off the floor to put out some more 2008 bikes. He quoted me a price of 501 dollars and some change! This was 168 dollars of the regular price, not the list price, but the everyday sale price. My only beef at the time was it was a 16 inch frame.
Long story short (I know....too late!) I went back yesterday, tried it out and put it on layaway! There is still 3 feet of snow on the ground here, so by the time that crud goes away, the bike will be mine!
I really do believe in supporting the local bike shop, they then know you, know your ride, your habits and can take better care of you....
Thanks again for all the help...now I am looking for another bike, a comfort cruiser (ish) type bike for the city errands and the like.....
Giant Bicycles | Â Bikes - mountain - Rainier