I think this is a really interesting conversation. I feel much less vulnerable riding alone than I do running - even though I am farther from home while riding. There is a big cycling community around so I usually see other riders and I ride much faster than I can run.

It does make me uncomfortable to see the tone that somehow some one who is attacked might be responsible for that happening to them. Honestly, we only have an illusion of control. How you dress or whatever won't stop some one who wants to hurt some one.

I consider myself careful and I like the idea of having my route pre-marked so a friend can monitor me. But mostly I just know that I can't control the behavior of sociopaths who want to attack people.