Thanks everyone for taking the time to provide some input and tell me your stories. I will look around for a mountain biking clinic here, hopefully one for just women, because the way I see a lot of men riding around here is just too intimidating.

To answer some of your questions - I think the bike fits me pretty well. We have been over and over that and adjusted things over the last two years. My boyfriend just put hydrolic brakes on my bike a couple months ago. He has told me when going down stuff to get way off the back of the seat, like you are sitting on the back tire almost. That is how he rides. I can reach, but with flat pedals, feel very unsteady.

We tried the eggbeaters once. I did okay on a fireroad, but then we rode a new trail that was rather steep with switchbacks and I had trouble getting unclipped when I wanted to get off the bike. I would slow down but then just get stuck and fall over sideways. I got very frustrated so I went back to flats.

I know I need to ride more. Time is against me there with a full time job and an hour-long commute each way. I don't much enjoy riding in town, and I've heard too many stories of road bikers getting hit by cars so I'm not that interested in riding on the road. I am a bit afraid to ride alone in the mountains, too. I don't have any other friends who are into this sport.

My boyfriend always waits for me a little ways up the trail where he can still see me in case I fall or something. But I do feel bad for making him wait all the time, even though he says it is fine. He almost always rides ahead so that when I get to something he is usually up or down the trail enough that I am too scared to tackle things on my own, so I just get off the bike.

I do use the granny gear ALL THE TIME. I know I am out of shape so the getting out of breath part obviously I know I need to be in better shape to fix that part. I would just like to be able to stay on the bike more when I'm not completely gagging up a hill... especially going downhill.

I do want to ride... I just want to ride gradual smooth singletrack with lots of trees in beautiful mountain scenery... and that doesn't really exist here. Most of it is steep and rocky (it is the Rocky Mountains).

We have discussed me getting a full suspension bike. I feel like I shouldn't spend that kind of money until I ride better, and more. But my boyfriend has 8 bikes to my one so maybe I shouldn't feel so bad about adding one?