Well, I think we women are programmed to fear speed. I have been riding for 6 years and I still haven't been over 33. I'm OK on a straight downhill (of which there are not many), but any curve, especially to the right, i feel my back wheel sliding out and that's it. I try to brake before the descent and look ahead, but I feel the need to slow down to about 20 or even 15 most of the time. If I'm in the center of the road, I get nervous about cars, but it's actually easier to descend this way. It's really hard for me to understand how you cannot brake when descending; you brake going down a hill in a car. I feel totally out of control! This is a constant issue between me and my husband. In every other way, I am a competent intermediate rider and I lead group rides on some pretty challenging terrain. My average would be a lot higher if I didn't have this fear. At this point, I'm about to give up trying. My goal is to be able to handle the curves and get up to about 35. This is embarrassing on group rides where even if i am in the front and passing others on the climbs, I have to work like crazy to get back with the front group after a downhill. It seems like 27 or 28 is the point where I begin to freeze, even on a straight road.