I can often be ahead of some of the boys and I have to say that more often then not they are very supportive. When they do tell me they're "gunning" for me it's to say that A) They find me motivating and B) they are actually trying to motivate me back. The guys I ride with want nothing more than for me to kick azz and especially kick other male azz.

Now, I have to bring up another side... how many of us in a race will not chase a man if he passes us but will get spurred on if we get passed by a woman. I know that I'm guilty of that. If they aren't my competition on the podium... why should I care? On some level I think that I assume that a man should be faster than me, he has advantages after all. But isn't it just as bad to think that way as it is for a guy to assume that he should be faster?