I agree with everyone else here - go and race! Like Eden, I have become friends with many of the women against whom I race. On race day, however, the gloves are off. And frankly, if they beat me it is because they were better, smarter, faster than I was that day.

Re: drafting in an MTB race. It depends on the course. If there are a lot of fireroad/carriage road sections, this is certainly possible. I know that I have used someone to draft in an MTB race, but when it comes to a technical section that doesn't work so well. Your friend clearly doesn't understand race tactics if she let herself get into the position of dragging someone around to get beaten on the line. Many of us have learned this lesson the hard way!

Good luck in the race (and definitely do the Sport category). Let us know how it went.

SheFly