I grew up with bikes in bits on the kitchen table and had my first crash while reading the ´beano´ in my dad´s side car followed by years of riding on pillions and getting thrown off them by bad bends and blind car drivers and too short a time on a bantam 175.... Now after serving 25yrs behind the kitchen sink I´ve been let off for good behaviour. My dream machine is a Suzuki VL intruder 125. I took my CBT with a guy called Les from ´Fast Trak Scotland´ and he was brilliant. Any man that asks a woman to find the biting point of the engine with the front wheel between his legs is taking her very seriously. If biking is in your blood then blokes will take you seriously and give you any advice they can. I don´t think it´s a matter of competing with men (unless you fancy a few circuits at Donnington) It´s a biking journey that we´re all on, and what I love about bikers is they´re not tight with advice or help. At any age there will always be someone faster and brighter and someone slower, so forget competition, decide what is right for you and ENJOY the ride. PS. "Old bikers never die, their leathers just get tighter."