where do you live?: In New Mexico

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): All of the above. I race triathlons, I've done one local time trial race, and I love commuting/playing around on my bikes!

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I never rode like I do now, I picked it up when I started with the UNM Triathlon team.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: 1 really old cruiser (it was my 77 yr old grandmother's first), 1 old mountain bike turned commuter (1998 Trek 800), 1 single-speed-turned-fixie, 1 road/triathlon bike, and one hand-me-down not currently in working order Specialized Carbon Fiber Allez.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes, actually, of all shapes and genres of cyclists. Though they clearly don't always know the rules of the road

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: No, it's still very male-dominated, but I think it's turning very slowly

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): yes, equipment definately is a big one, we're mostly not shaped like men(though my mother does better with male geometry than female) and I don't want to go out on a bike that has "man" written all over it. I always end up putting something girly on the bike (pink bar tape, bell, waterbottle cages, a nailpolish flower...you get the idea)

general comments and ideas: i would like to see more women-oriented designs in the industry, for sure, but it shouldn't get to the point of "dumbing down" the equipment just because it's made for a woman. I know what to do with bikes, and i expect the same level of respect that a man would get when buying/riding a bike.

good luck with your project!