I feel so strongly about this that I just registered to comment on this article. I disagree to a certain extent with what's being said. A Walmart Mongoose XR Pro is a very capable bike that can be had for around $300. It has a Suntour (a reputable brand) fork that is very plush and active, and it has SRAM shifters and derailleurs. In fact, it was that bike that made me realize how much I love the crisp feel of SRAM components. It also has disc brakes. Will it keep up with my Fox 36 160mm equipped bike? Probably not, but it isn't as slow as you make it seem. People have to start somewhere. There are other examples of capable bikes. For example, the Diamondback Recoil can be had for ~$350 at the end of the season, and I'm sure there are plenty of good used bikes. Weight is also an issue that is overhyped. It's the rider, not the bike. If you find a rider out of breath on a cheap bike, they're out of shape. It's not because of the bike. If they actually rode, they wouldn't be on that bike to begin with.

I don't think this article is realistic. How many mountain bikers started on a 2nd hand $500 hardtail and upgraded to a $3000+ Dualy within a year or two? I know I did, and could name half a dozen others with me. Fact is, most people don't know enough about MTBing to justify more than $1000, in fact, I doubt you started on something much better than the $500 mongoose you ragged on. Fact is, a bike is a bike when your starting and that is what we should be encouraging people to buy.