[Noah930]

I was in the same position about many years ago. I bought a used GT Tequesta from a local bike shop for about $300. Total of about 27 lbs. Chromoly (steel) frame. You're not gonna get aluminum or anything fancier in that price range. Doesn't sound like you'll need it, anyway. Components were all Shimano STX or STX-RC, I think. I think that's about the lowest level of frame and componentry you'd want for any off-road riding. Rode that thing through quite a bit of technical stuff in the Santa Monica and Hollywood mountains with no breakdowns. Later, I stuck on a RockShox front fork.

I've since upgraded to fancier equipment, which definitely makes a difference I can feel while riding. I may get up and down the mountain easier now, but I'm not doing stuff now that I couldn't do before with my 'lesser' bike. And I was probably in better shape for lugging that older, heavier bike up and down the trails.