>>1359085I'm a socal rider and I ride 27.5+. I recommend bumping up your budget if you want a decent 27.5+ bike. The tires are expensive! I've ridden Laguna Beach, SkyPark, and all over North SD county on my 120mm (rear) travel bike. I've seen most riders rock >130mm travel. Once your skill level progresses, you'll be wanting to hit much more technical trails which would be more comfortable on a longer travel bike.
I also recommend going to a LBS and demo-ing something nice. Hell, go to SkyPark and rent a full suspension Santa Cruz or Rocky Mountain for the day and hit up their trails. You won't really know what you want until you ride it.
Pic related. It's my bike.
