Everybody had to start somewhere. How are you supposed to learn a trail if you can't well...learn it??

I have had similar experiences such as yours. But much more satisfying. One that comes to mind is when I first started riding and was cranking up to the Flume Trail and there was a band of people that passed me. A woman said to me, sort of patronizingly "You're doing great, you'll make it up this hill...someday..." . Then all the people in the group laughed in unison...and one guy said "good luck". Well that kinda rubbed me the wrong way. That's a pretty extreme example, but the story doesn't end there!

I got to the Flume Trail which is just a great ride in Tahoe, but often crowded, and THERE THEY WERE blocking the trail. One side is a drop off the other is the side of the mountain. I stopped because I had no idea what to tell them. One of the guys I was riding with told them to keep riding and the woman that couldn't keep her comments to herself was freaking out because of the cliff. I don't know where the brass ones came from on me, but I just go "well let me ride by". Nothing was sweeter than riding by this woman and saying "have a nice ride". Very very sweet.

Just keep in mind one day you'll be the one bombing down those trails. As for the bozos with designs on airhorns, well, you get them everywhere. Usually they are fast but will never get any admiration for their ability to teach others or lead by example. And the only way they get any attention is bragging about their times because no one really cares otherwise.

I haven't had the chance to do a women's ride. I have ridden with women, one of my heroes that taught me how to ride is female...Maybe someday...