realskiers

Jim -- one more comment:  Josh has a point about not going overboard on the lighter-is-better thing.  You may end up spending a lot of time and money lightening your ride, but then end up making the bike too fragile to handle rough terrain or more aggressive riding.  Lighter components sometimes means easily broken.  I have seen guys carrying their super-light race rigs out of the park with a wheel folded like a pretzel, or some other component snapped right off.  There is usually blood involved, too. 

I know you and Lynn come from a long background of road riding, and may feel that light weight is paramount, but trying to get your mtn. bikes down near the weight of your road bike may be unwise.  IMO, it's better to try to find that balance between durability and strength, which gives you confidence that the bike can take a bashing and still keep the rider intact, and lighter weight for an easier pedaling effort.  It's no fun having to carry or push your bike through a rock garden because you're afraid of blowing a sidewall or denting a rim, all while wearing hard-soled bike shoes.  Tougher tires and other components may be a bit heavier, but you will have more freedom to have fun and not fear the rocks.  Besides, blasting through a rock garden on a full suss bike is a hoot.  Just don't fall! 

Hope you get out in the woods this weekend.  It's supposed to rain here until Monday (figures  ) so unless there's a break in the weather, I'll be riding in my daydreams.