Hi,
I am an old lady who just started mountain biking you are exactly right; mtb is much harder than it looks but oh so much fun.. I bought the Surly Karate Monkey, heavy but very stable and I am addicted. I use good judgement and don't do jumps or rocks or anything that would break my bones. The bike is heavy so I am slow, but I am getting used to finding my line and climbing. I took a lesson with a Pro, Kathy Krause, and this added to my confidence. She also helped tweak my fit. I love being in the woods. I should add that I have been road riding since I was 9 years old when I lived in world much less crowded by cars. I love your bike. I have Jones bars on my hybrid which I use for paved and gravel flat trails.