I just bought this book and thought I'd tell you ladies about it. Every Woman's Guide to Cycling: From Buying Your First Bike to Winning Your First Race, by Selene Yeager (Bicycling magazine's "Fit Chick").

I just got it a couple of days ago and have been jumping around reading different parts, but intend to read every page. It's a perfect book for beginners, but is great for many levels. I have been riding for two years and know a lot of the stuff in the book, but certainly not all of it. She's also very inspirational, so you not only learn information, but you are motivated and inspired by her own stories and the stories she shares about other women, mostly every day women of all ages, who decided to take up cycling.

The book just came out this year. Here's a link.

http://www.amazon.com/Every-Womans-G.../dp/0451223047