Bikes are anonymous, especially road. No one is watching or paying attention… Part of the problem too, but still. I’ve been through some shit on a bike, but honestly still recommend it 10/10. The odds of you encountering some political refugee with a third grade education and a four page long driving record are nearly zero. You will never learn an area like you will on a bike. I have been all over Orange county and have ridden a lot of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego, all from just starting from home. I know places on a different level than most people, like I know the bike trails, back roads, fire routes, parks, military bases, and all the way down to connections that are not intended like through golf courses, sidewalks and stuff. I know of a bunch of eclectic pastry shops too because I would make them destinations to push up my miles. Like, today I’m going to hit up a Persian place in Tustin, then a French shop in Huntington Beach before heading home for an 80 mile day. It takes awhile to build up that kind of strength, but only around a year. It is the ultimate freedom.