Nothing can be more annoying than being harassed. Being an overweight rider I knew that when I started cycling again that I would get comments from time to time. So far, I have been lucky and only one car of idiots yelled at me. I know what you mean about the disrepect - we get that a lot in our busy county too. We are getting very good at finding alternate routes that avoid some of the more congested traffic areas. Is there someone who can ride with you? Safety in numbers is a good idea. As far as wildlife encounters, the only time I got shook up about a snake was a couple of years ago when I was trying to get in a final lap on my mountain bike on one of our city park trails with a huge thunderstorm rumbling around I was pedaling like a mad woman when I saw this huge snake smack dab in the middle of the trail - I only had time to lift up my front wheel a bit and the snake slithered directly underneath between my two wheels - it was a diamond back rattler. I almost had the big one I tell you!! I encountered a park ranger back at the parking lot and told him and he said I was very lucky and that he had seen even bigger ones. They generally get out of the way of runners and bikers on the trail, but apparently this fellow was running from the storm just like me! Good luck with your riding and hang in there. I refuse to let idiotic people ruin my day - they are just jealous that you are doing something fun and healthy and all they can do is drive around and look stupid.