Thanks BikeMomma and pkg !!! It just blows my mind that you can hit those kind of speeds!!! I plan on joining a club next year to get pack riding experience and so far am riding solo so reaching those speeds by my own seems impossible in my mind. But I have a goal! I won't lose hope but know I have a lot of work cut out for me before I think I'm ready to race. I will take notice of the Vastus Medialis you mentioned.

The top women in my area hit high 40km/hr on rolling terrain with some climbs. I don't have aspirations to take a podium finish (yet ) but want to maintain a speed fast enough so that I don't get lapped and pulled out of race. The problem with racing here is that pro women and beginner women get lumped into one cat and forced to race together.