Shadon, I picked up an REI clinics and events brochure in the Sacramento store on Monday. In the brochure under the outdoor school is "Intro to Road Cycling" and the description includes safe descending and body positions. It is not on their website.

Give your local REIs a call and see what they have that isn't listed. Even their women's intro to mountain biking day would give you some execellent handling skills and make you feel more comfortable.

Do you have something called "The Learning Exchange" there in SF? We have lots of good maintenance classes taught through this org in our area.