Aw, darlin'. A lot of us, male and female, are really scared at first. That fear is natural, but in the end, it can hurt you.

Fear makes you do dangerous things. It makes you hug the side of the road, it makes you try to be invisible, it makes you yield to cars too soon and it makes you less predictable to drivers.

Ride with large groups until you feel more comfortable. Take notes. When you're driving in your car, observe the way confident cyclists integrate themselves into traffic. Memorize http://www.bicyclesafe.com.

You're not a crybaby or a wuss for feeling scared. You're a smart, cautious person. Turn that fear into healthy awareness of the road around you.