I have really been enjoying my evening commute. I've had to cut it down to a six mile ride instead of ten because of questionable roads. Having to do more with speeding traffic/narrow shoulder than scary areas.

I still have a couple mile stretch of being mostly alone though. I was having scary thoughts just the other night and got to thinking that if this was July, I wouldn't think twice about riding through this area at this time of day. It's a straight road, through light industry and open fields with good shoulders and light traffic. It was just the dark and rain that was making it scary. I have plenty of lights, can see the roadway just fine and a driver would have to be blind not to see me. I even scared a coyote the other night with all my flashing lights.

I do spend a lot of ride time on the what ifs . . . and I watch every car that drives by. It doesn't hurt to be ready. Once I turn off my worry gene I just love being out on my bike in the dark. For some reason I feel very impowered. The best advice I can give is to just give it try, maybe it will work for you and maybe it won't but you won't know until you try. And try to keep that worry bug under control. bikerHen