Everything Aggie said. The boobs-to-the-tube trick has help me control my bike way better on steep climbs. My front wheel used to dance all over until I started lowering my upper body. I haven't tried getting intimate with the nose of my saddle (on purpose) yet - just read about that twice within the last few days here in TE. I'll try it on my next ride.

I, too, got into technical mountain biking because of my husband. Actually, he has taught me a lot but there are some things that he does that he just can't teach or describe. I'm going to join a women's group for the female camaraderie & to learn new skills. Riding with hubby is still my greatest joy, though.

I see a big difference between crashing & falling. I fall sometimes & never end up with more than a few bruises & scratches. Crashing to me means risking more serious injury - stitches, broken bones, etc. I'll usually come off the bike before I'll do something that I know has a high potential for crashing, but falling - not so much.

You've come to the right place to ask questions. These ladies (and a few men) are a wealth of knowledge. I've learned more about cycling in the last few months than I learned in the many years of cycling before that.