Want to get back into mountain biking

jckid

I am a 36 year old female rider. I was big into mountain biking from about 1990 to 1998. Since then I've only ridden my road bike, and the only trails I've ridden in recent years have been on my motorcycle (enduro).

I am really wanting to get back into mountain biking (cross country). I am looking at getting a titanium hardtail with a decent suspension fork on it. I have never ridden anything but hardtails (steel and aluminum), but now I'm wondering if I should consider a full-suspension XC frame. I'm hearing better things about full-suspension than I heard back in the 90's. I noticed that the Santa Cruz Juliana frame is in the same price range as the two Ti hardtail frames I'm considering. I want a very light bike. It seems that full-suspension no longer means heavy. I think the Juliana is only about 1 to 1.5 lbs. heavier than the Ti hardtail.

I guess I'm just looking for a little guidance here. I'm 5'4" and 105lbs. What are the pro's and con's of each. What would you guys recommend for a small, lightweight rider.

Rockslayer

There are alot more full suspension bikes targeted at XC these days, and they can be solid climbers as well as unlike they used to be. The pedal efficiecy has definately increased in alot of the XC specific ones. I am not sure what the range is like in the women specific models. The mid to high range models have good adjustability in the front and rear suspension to target your riding style/s.

I geuss the main difference is the ride, a hardtail can feel like a bone shaker once you've ridden a dualie for a while but then it comes down to the terrain your ride. The benefits of a dualie is more noticable on more technical trails.