Mountain Bike Recommendations

I totally understand that there are times when a road bike is too "race-y" for some rides.  (I'm actually in the market for a beach cruiser for an around the town sort of bike) 

Maybe what you're really after is a hybrid or commuter bike?  These will put you more upright and you can slap on some platform pedals... 

Mtn bikes are made for, well, mountains.  They tend to be pretty beefy (esp the cheaper ones) and are pretty slow on the road - you don't really need the shock and super knobby tires, even for some dirt trails.

 My $0.2

I would look at a cyclo-cross bike.  CX bikes are basicly road bikes with mountain bike brakes and wider, cushier tires.  You get better efficiency on paved roads then with a hybrid or a trail bike, and it still has the grip and cushion to take on some mild single track.  You can relax the fit as much as you like.  Doesn't have to be a special bike for that.

My other suggestion would be a base model Trek mountain bike and replace the tires with a solid hard pack race tire, like The Bonty Revolt SuperX.  It's barely knobby in the middle, but has some bite on the sidewall, so when you hit trail, you can air down or just let it grip on the tighter corners.  I've commuted and ridden trails on those tires and they perform wonderfully on everything but ascents with loose rock.

hard tail = no rear suspension

soft tail = rear suspension.

How long have you been riding?  It sounds like you are still pretty new to clipless pedals.  With time you will get to the point where clipping in and out will be more natural then stepping on platforms, and worrying about excessive unclipping will be the farthest thing from your mind.  One thing to remember is that you don't have to clip in to pedal.  If I'm starting an uphill section, I might ride with my right foot on top of the pedal (not clipped in) until I can get enough speed to coast and clip in.  As you get better, you will be better at hitting the pedal every time, and this whole problem just vanishes.

Santa Cruz actually makes a bike priced under $1K?   

I am so glad to see someone interested in mountain biking!

If you are interested in going off road at all, I have to suggest a Gary Fisher.  They have perfect geometry for beginners (perfect geometry in general)!  I have a Tassajara that I just LOVE!  Its a hardtail (front suspension) and therefore reasonably priced.  If you are interested in any kind of off-roading, you can expect some mishaps that every beginner experiences.  My Tass has made me a much better rider and keeps those mishaps from happening too often.  However, I don't recommend clipless pedals until you have a pretty good ability on the bike.  If you go to MTBR.com the Tass recieves rave reviews.  You could probably pick one up for ~$700.  You can always upgrade components as you discover what you like/need. 

You honestly can't go wrong with Gary Fisher.

I agree with that.  You have to get the bike that feels the best for you.  Bike fit is very important when learning how to manuever over obstacles.  Its also an important aspect in comfort as well.  We all like to spend hours and hours and hours on our bikes, but if you aren't comfortable you will NEVER like mountain biking.

However, I have very long legs (for my height) and I find that it is nearly impossible to endo (back tire comes over front tire - face meets the dirt - not fun) on my Tass.  That is the main beginner mishap I was referring to in my earlier post.  My husband face-planted countless times on his Scott before he learned how to ride downhill.  On a Tass, a beginner wouldn't have to think about keeping his/her weight over the back tire - its already done.  And don't get me started on the climbing capabilities...