I own and ride a Diamondback Release 3. I definitely had the same concerns that you have about getting the right bike without trying it first. My only experience with mountain bikes before my Release 3 were a 1998 Schwinn Moab 3, and briefly a Raleigh Tekoa Comp, both hard tails. I figured since the components and geometry of the Release 3 were comparable to more expensive models from other brands, there wouldn’t be a huge difference in how the bike rides. Like others have said, the bike is heavier than other options (a problem that the 5C likely solves to some extent), but for the price and components, I feel it was a bargain. Since the 5C has similar geometry, and even higher quality components, I am confident you will really like how the bike handles on the trails. Just make sure you take lots of measurements to get the right size frame. I imagine you could also demo some similar bikes to get a feel for different frame sizes. Worse case scenario, since buying the bike direct at a lower price, you could always sell the bike without taking a huge loss if it doesn’t work out for you. I did this with the Raleigh Tekoa Comp. Purchased directly from Raleigh on sale, realized that I needed more of a trail oriented bike, and sold it for just slightly less than what I paid for it. Good luck to you and enjoy riding your new bike!