I almost always see just a few people going opposite of me in the summer, maybe four or five routinely. We all wave at each other, and one guy and I say "good morning." I think it's because so far out from the city, anybody else on a bike -- commuting or not -- is something of a rarity.

I've had once or twice when some guy an I ended up together going the same direction. It's nice to have company, but this one guy on a Cervelo (He told me faux-modestly: "I've been commuting a few months now, and the direct route is 10 miles each way, but on nice days I like to go longer," like he's super macho) made me ride faster than I intended to. I stayed ahead of him, though! But mostly no, I ride alone 99% of the time.

I never see anybody else in the winter. Not one, for five months or more of the year. If I saw somebody else on a bike in February, I'd probably just fall off my bike in shock. (On a side note, I was in the bike shop in the winter getting something done -- it seems like things always need fixing in the winter -- and I heard this guy talking about how he loved riding on ice. He was all talking about how great it was with his studded tires and all. I have studded tires for the winter, and I spent that whole time thinking "He likes riding on ice? I'd go a mile out of my way to avoid riding on it!" But even so I didn't see him out there in the "wintry mix" weather, either.)