So I'm not a newbie when it comes to cycling. I've been riding for a number of years now, I've had a couple of different bikes (now I have a Schwinn Supersport and a Specialized Dulce... my Terry got swiped). A year or so back I moved with my fiancee from the Windy City to a farm about two hours away. I love my farm and my new life, but I haven't been riding much since I got here and I MISS IT SO MUCH. So why haven't I been riding? Okay, it probably sounds weird and backward, but I'm just not comfortable riding the country roads I live off of. Hey, I used to commute everyday in busy traffic. I biked in winter. But I'm not used to riding out here, and I need advice!

I don't live off of quiet country roads. I live off of relatively busy ones and when I do drive I have to say that if I don't drive faster than 60 mph the other cars/trucks pass me. I'm trying to find the local bike groups, but I'm finding that nice people I know don't go to their rides because the people who organize them are known to be big a-holes. I'd like to be able to train for a century, but I know that's not going to happen if I have to drive to where I want to bike everyday.

I'd normally not be this nervous, but I've almost been sideswiped in chicago several times, and the idea of that happening with a semi going 65 mph...