i'm still new and i don't venture too far from home alone yet... i have the same newbie fears!

hubby did SHOW me how to change a rear flat... but that' the key.. he showed me.. i haven't practiced yet... i need to do that!

i've also sent emails home to remind me to add a rag ane one more co2 cartridge to my bag!

i like the advice about not dressing girly... i do now.. but it's in the neighborhood.. and on the long rides hubby's with me... when cars go WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY around us.. i wonder if it's cuz they can tell i'm a gurl? but i can see where i wouldn't want them knowing that if i was alone! especially since some of the roads are kind of desolate (not sure i'll ever be brave enought to head east which is further into the desert with houses being few and far between...

heck... i'm still kindof skittish about going too far from home if hubby's not home to come get me! last saturday is a perfect example.. he left me to go ride with some guys and i worried the whole time i was out of the neighborhood that i would break down! so i headed back and just road up and down the streets...

i know i will get more confidence over time...

as for the instinct thing... a couple of weeks ago we had a creepy incident (well.. i thought so) a truck came up behind us.. and stayed there the longest time.. then sloooooowly went by... and continued to go sloooooooww.. i was getting creeped out and definitly thought that if i had been alone i woulda already been on the phone calling hubby! it was a desert road.. so no houses... creepy! made me think!