@jdb The Exceed will be OK for a 45yr old, I’m 49…
There is some vertical complaince in the rear that absorbs alot of the “trail buzz”, although the Cannondale FSI is a little better in this respect.
I run tubeless 2.25 /2.35 tyres at approx 25psi which also removes alot of the minor trail bunmps.
Geometry wise it’s not twitchy at all, I’m 6’2 and was half wan inbetween L and XL bikes, in the end I went for XL and swaped the 100mm stem for a 60mm one. The grips it came with were rock hard plastic so I swaped for some Ergon grips.
Last yr I did a 7 day stage race on it on the Alps, total of 45hrs on the the bike and it was perfect 