Hi Ama! I looked up the Jr Redline - now I feel like an amazon. It actually would be too small. I think I'll be happy with a frankenbike - my girl roadie peeps have pretty basic mt bikes, and we'll be nerdy together! If I decide next year that I am totally hooked on cyclocross and need a better rig, I'll worry about that then. From reading the Mt bike postings, there are plenty of skills to pick up riding on dirt! Tokie