Dear male downhill instructor,

just because we're women, haven't tried downhill before and are over 35, some of us even over 45, does not mean that we're:
a) stupid
b) nervous
c) unathletic
d) timid
e) completely unacquainted with bikes. (I mean honestly... )

Between the six of us we have something like 100 years of collective experience with trail riding, road riding, bike repair, horse racing, xc skiing, telemark, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountaineering, sailing, kayaking and river kayaking, which we would gladly have told you if you'd bothered to ask... and your telling us things like: "it's ok to be nervous girls", and "nah, that suspension is fine, you don't know what it's supposed to be like" just made you look pretty stupid, to tell you the truth.

Oh, and that's why we didn't come drink beer with you that evening, btw. You ignoring us to chat and highfive with your buddies whenever they were around wasn't too endearing either.

Dear downhill rental bike shop,
when I asked, nicely, for a woman instructor if you had one, this is pretty much the reason why. Women are rarely that dumb.