Those two bikes are actually quite different. Read up a bit on things like tire clearance and long-reach brakes. I'd probably point a newbie your size toward the Specialized, but the fit/feel and condition of the bike can make a huge difference. Also, there were a couple different versions of the Sequoia. It might have something other than Sora shifters (for example).
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"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur