Quote Originally Posted by margo49
I believe in riding early in the morning. The pathologicals are less likely to be out and about and those who *are* tend to be sporty types (runners, bikers,etc)
I agree with this one! On weekdays during the summer I can only ride after work but on the weekends I ride early morning and find that crazies aren't up yet.

As for feeling safe, I am a young female rider who is 5'2 and small too. Outside of carrying my cell, I try not to think about it. I tuck my ponytail but I still wear my form-fitted jerseys and shorts as it is my right to do so. I don't how to describe it but I try to convey confidence through my body language and always have an idea of where I'm going or what I'm doing. I guess it's like that self defence technique where if you are walking alone on a street, you have to assert yourself and act like you know where you are going even if you don't. Don't look act vulnerable and it hopefully deters potential attacks but also mentally makes you stronger.

Harder on a bike but I have that mentality that you can't mess me and it carries through to my body language on the bike. I don't generally think about that kind of stuff when I am riding but I trust my instinct, if I sense a car parked up front doesn't look cool, I turn around. Eye contact is huge. Stare them down if you've seen the same truck pull by twice. I do that and actually take my shades off and do a stare down.

Mostly I try to stick to routes that I know are usually routined by other roadies too.

It depresses me to know that women have to think about this but just be aware and never doubt your instincts.

As for dogs, I've only been chased by one once and it was a Great Dane so I thought it was a horse at first running along. I thought wheee, this is like the TdF when the horsies run alongside until I heard it bark. I pedalled like I stole something and when the owner finally came out to call his beast (I mean this in nicest way), he waved and yelled sorry. Next time, I'll slow down as suggested but geez, when you're in a panic, you flee!!!