"We kept seeing the same faces over and over again and felt there was a lack of fresh blood being brought into the fold," says Jenn Levo, cofounder of Let's Race Bikes!, an organization in Portland, Oregon, that helps women gain the skills and confidence they need to compete on two wheels. Since the group formed three years ago, women's participation at the races it targets has increased by 35 percent, with much of the growth in the beginner fields. We asked the women of Let's Race Bikes! to share their best tips for getting started.

1 Find Your People
"We try to create a community in which women see friendly faces and don't feel embarrassed to ask questions," says Levo. Feeling shy? Facebook groups and online forums are good places to start connecting with aspiring and seasoned racers.

2 Take a Clinic
From technique, strategy, and etiquette classes, to clinics before weekly evening races, Let's Race Bikes! not only gets women to the start but also makes sure they know what to do when they arrive. Ask your local shop or club about classes in your area.

3 Look for Free Entry
By partnering with the local cycling industry and ride promoters, Let's Race Bikes! raffles off complimentary entries to first-time female racers. Even outside of Portland many races offer no-cost or discounted women's entries—check with the organizers before you sign up.

RELATED: Tips for Your First Race

4 Learn on the Fly
"Racing is the best training for racing," says Courtney Gould, another cofounder. "You need to build a base before you start, and have some group riding skills, but to get beyond that you have to go at race pace in a competitive setting."

5 Embrace the Tactics
"Racing is like chess," says bike-messenger-turned-road-racer Hazel Gross, who started competing through LRB and now races for Women's West Coast Cycling. "Know your opponents, their strengths and weaknesses, and what kind of moves they might pull."

6 Pay it Forward
"Women come into bike racing through friends," says Gould. When you ask racers how they got started, the majority say, 'I got asked.'"