I am a woman getting back into cycling- if it wasn't for a health issue I never would have stopped. I grew up cycling... and running.. and love both. I can't wait to get my trike (hopefully within the next week- waiting for it to come in) and hit the roads again. I think there are a lot of factors. I won't be competing for any distances or speeds in the near future- I've ridden one week of the last 5 years and I'll be on an upright trike... but I also work a LOT of hours and go to grad school. I am figuring the 2 days a week I work close to home I'll bike commute starting in a month or 2 (it's 6 miles each way)... otherwise I'll be doing weekend rides with my husband and maybe very SHORT evening rides most of the time, unless I don't have much schoolwork that week. He hasn't ridden much the last 2 years either so we'll be building up together, but he goes much faster on his bike than I did on the trike I rented, not sure how that will play out with the better one I am buying... I have always trained for athletics and participated in races/rides/runs with men as well as women, but I also got to know the group a bit first. I know how to take care of myself and safety comes first but its not going to make me fear anything.