Join a team. It's good for training and learning about racing if nothing else.

However, since I am typically the lone woman on my team, I will say that for lower category racing, having teammates in the race is nice, but not necessary. I'm trying to find a bigger women's squad for next year, and a few teams are recruiting me, but I am really not that happy with my choices. I've gotten to know a few people well from each team, and we enjoy racing together. We often work together in races despite our team affiliations. Sometimes, it's because they are low in numbers too. Sometimes, it's because not everyone is on the same page physically or with their egos. I've seen strong women on the same team refuse to work together on the last lap of a race. Both wanted glory. Neither got it. I've seen women who would love to work with their teammates, but their strengths differ too greatly. The strength difference part is more common in low category racing, because there's a reason we're at the bottom! Either we're novices with tactics and fitness or we just don't have the athletic talent or the commitment to have a lot of strengths.

So, teams can be great. Definitely join one for the camaraderie, learning experience, training partners, sponsorship deals, etc. whether or not they have a bunch of people on it who you will be racing with. Whether you join a team with a big women's squad is up to you. I kind of like it that I can sometimes work better with a few women from team X than their own teammates because 1) the team is too big and unorganized or 2) they are all in it for themselves anyway. Some big teams also don't treat the newer or weaker riders very well, because they want the stronger ones to advance. They would probably advance anyway, and part of teamwork is to have some workhorses. However, would you want to always be sent off the front to make other teams chase when you know they don't care that you will blow up and maybe not even get to finish the race? That doesn't teach you a whole lot about how you can race well.

Take some time getting to know the teams in your area, and see who you like being around. That's probably the most important part.