You know, I wish I had some words of advice. The hardest thing for me when I went from mountain biking to road cycling was traffic. It scared me so badly that I rode my new bike 23 miles and put it up for a year! Some of the prettiest roads we could ride on are the most dangerous for us as they are so narrow with a speed limit of 70 mph and the people around here act like they've never seen a cyclist....even when they pass us they act like they didn't see us. I never assume they do, either. We always wear very bright, loud jerseys, in hopes that that helps. I've only had one near hit. What we have ended up using is the interstate access road, because oddly enough, it is rarely traveled. We always ride with the traffic and not against. I am hard of hearing so it is very unnerving for me to have a vehicle fly past me from behind that I didn't know was coming, ever now and then one will slip up on us. For the most part, when cars come up past us they will pull into the other lane, but there is always that odd one that a)didn't see us or b)doesn't think cyclists should share the road.

I don't think it will ever be safe, but I have gotten to the point where I do the best I can safety wise and just say to heck with it and ride anyways. As my Dad would say, "Suck it up and do it anyway!" (Thanks Dad! )

One lady I know who cycles in our area can't figure out why we would choose the interstate access road over circling the lake. The lake road is pretty but winding, hilly, and loads of trees. In a car you can't see what is around each bend, so it would be very easy to be up and over a cyclist before you knew they were there.

Not that any of this is helpful to you, just know that many of us here have felt and do feel your fear.

And welcome to the board! I've learned a ton of stuff here and love the people who post.