Mrs Pickled

I've driven past them before, but normally I feel intimidated to go into a bike shop and ask questions that may reveal how little I actually know

Cool! Think I may have to go visit her, thanks for the info. Do you think she'd be able to give me advice on what I need to get- as the name implies, I havent been playing with bikes for long and am VERY aware that there are LOTS of things I still need to get.....

Joburg

Ola All Pls help the noob :-) Where can a girl get HONEST advice about kit etc - I've visited a few shops and find that most of the (male) salesmen dont have much knowledge about stuff for girls (e.g. kit, saddles, shoes etc) and just tell me to "get the men's version but just buy a smaller size" If that were really the way to go, then why did all these manufacturers go to the trouble of making women-specific items??