Ill second this. Dropper post will give you a big advantage in the technical bits. Not having a saddle directly under your bum when descending or negotiating technical bits will help get your weight back and center of gravity nice and low on the bike. This takes the weight of the front wheel which will not only prevent spills over the bars but also helps the wheel to roll over the terrain better. 29er makes very good sense on the local stage races where you encounter long stretches of dirt roads, jeep track or single track. Once you get those big wheels up to speed it just keeps rolling. Personally I don't believe in the marketing speak around added tracking on climbs etc. Tyre choice, leg strength, endurance and technical ability is what makes or breaks a climb. 29ers are also built for short people. This "buy smaller wheels because you are short" advice no longer applies. Bike companies cater for all sizes of riders these days. Emily Batty is quite short and rides one brilliantly Best advice is to do a proper ride on the various bikes you are interested in. The parking lot shock pump ride only works if you know what you want exactly. Bought my Jamis after a 15 second spin in the parking lot. I knew exactly what type of handling characteristic I was after. Don't fall for the ladies specific hype either. Get the bike setup to your body type. Ask as many questions as you can. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Only uninformed and lazy sales staff. Good luck.
