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Female Roadie Buying First (XT-equipped) XC Mountain Bike: HT or Dualie Given Noted Details Below?
Yes, the age old question. But given my details, can you please help me weigh the pros and cons a little better?
I will either be purchasing the Kona Kula Deluxe (HT) or Giant's Anthem x2 (dualie). Both bikes are XT-equipped component-wise.
I like light bikes, and being 5'7" and 118 lbs, the HT appeals to me. Yet, skill-wise, I will be riding with a lot of my riding friends who are experienced mountain bikers (and male, which means they have more muscle to ride faster). I understand the full squish will let me plow through things that I'd otherwise have to become skillfully proficient at.
(Not that I mind putting in the effort to learn, but I don't want to be slowing down my riding buddies any more than I have to.)
These will be the two considerations because I work at a shop and can get deals on these two bikes.
You can choose either one and learn on it. It'll be easier to break into the dirt with a full suspension, and given your road experience it might be a better transition. Heavier weight aside (and the weight difference isn't usually that much with an air shock and a decent frame...which the Anthem certainly is), the full suspension bike will allow you to remain seated more of the time like you're used to with the road bikes. It will also keep your lower back and neck more comfortable so you'll be able to ride fresher, longer. If your trails have a lot of chatter, ruts, roots, or rocks, you'll appreciate this a LOT.
Hardtails are fun. Zippy and efficient more like a road bike. However, many of today's suspension designs (like the Maestro on the Giant) are *excellent* and you don't lose as much efficiency as you do with older designs or poorer quality shocks...as long as you take the time to experiment and set them up properly for your weight and riding style. Choosing your lines is more important with a hardtail unless you don't mind being knocked around a bit, but they will certainly teach you to be a fluid rider. Also, while hardtails can sometimes excel at climbing, beginning riders often don't have the climbing skills to take full advantage of that. Full suspension bikes will actually increase traction to the rear wheel while hammering a steep climb (or one with obstacles and loose rocks/soil), whereas an unskilled rider on a hardtail will spin out the rear wheel and stall more often than not.
Hardtails have several advantages, and vice versa for full suspension. Most of us end up owning both. lol. One thing you can do if you get the hardtail and want a little more comfort is to pick up some larger-volume tires. Running a 2.3 tire at 28-30psi is a dream. Normal 2.1 tires at 35-40psi are a bit more harsh.
For a beginning mountain biker, I'd recommend bike styles in this order: quality short-travel full suspension, quality hardtail, cheap hardtail, cheap full suspension.
Hope that helps some....if at all possible, get out and ride other people's bikes or test ride models from a shop if they'll let you. Nothing helps you decide what you like/need like actual riding. And don't get too hung up on component levels....that's a roadie thing to do. lol. XT is great....LX is also pretty damn great these days, as is the stuff from Sram.
Good luck and enjoy the new ride! 
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