Thoughts on women's Specialized mtn bikes?

[Irulan]

got mine this fall:

[mimitabby]

hey Irulan, which is the real you; the brunette on the bike or the blonde in your avatar?

just curious

[sundial]

Yes, do tell.

You are brave to wear those shorts for riding betwixt rocks and stickery things. I feel like I have to cover up for the encounters with sticks, twigs, briars and, uh, gravity.

[Irulan]

one is the real me, one is my alter ego.

[Jen-Jen]

I am looking into buying a mtn. bike this week. I have a Trek 4500 on order and the shop for a comparison ride is going to build up a Specialized Rockhopper. Then I get to choose between the two.

I see Sundial owns a Rockhopper, does anyone else ride either of these as well? Can anyone tell me pros and cons? I know that in the end it is going to be my chose and how I feel in the ride, but I'd still like to hear thoughts.

[sundial]

Mudgirl owns a Rockhopper too.

What I found is that it has a little shorter top tube than other mtb's, so if you plan on doing a lot of downhillin' you might want to opt for a little longer stem. It does corner great, though. It will weigh in about 30 lbs or so. I've been pretty pleased with it thus far. If you can, swing for the disc brakes.
OK, maybe more than you wanted to know.

[Becky]

I hope that this isn't considered thread-jacking (sorry if it is!), but while we're on the subject of women's MTBs....

does anyone have any experience/opinions of the women's GT Marathon 2.0? I have an opportunity to buy one for a very nice price....but have always ridden hardtails and am a little nervous about pulling the trigger on my first full-suspension MTB. Hubby says that I should buy a new hardtail instead

Thanks for your help!