[Redliner]

What is your riding style and what are you going to be doing on the bike? You mentioned racing, so are you into cross-country trail riding or are you more the big hit freerider type? You mentioned stairs - are you going to be doing urban assault stuff, going off jumps, riding stunts, and taking big drops on this thing? Or are you just looking for one bike that will do everything reasonably well? There are so many bikes available that narrowing down this criteria will be a big part of your selection process.

Full suspension bikes have progressed to the point that many people will argue that they have made hardtails obsolete. Bikes like the Rocky Mountain Element or Trek Fuel will give you an XC race-capable bike with just enough squish on the back end to take the edge off the bumps, and the weight penalty is not as noticeable as you might think. Stepping up to a bike with more travel (around 5 or 6 inches) will give you a heavier bike but more versatility in the really rough terrain. Keep in mind though, unless you're a ski hill bomber you're going to have to ride this thing uphill as well, so watch the bike weight and look for something that's a good balance. Unless you're really into the hardcore stuff, I'd stay right away from downhill and big hit bikes.

I may just be a sucker for punishment, but I still think that for a pure riding experience you can't beat the responsiveness of a high end steel hardtail. I've had a Rocky Mountain Blizzard for about ten years now and it's far and away my favourite bike out of the dozens I have owned.