I know exactly how you feel. I am the only adult bike rider in a town of 150 people in a rural setting. I'm the "crazy bike guy" - been called that to my face good-naturedly. Nearly everyone in town asks me about my riding when they see me. I ride at night during the winter months and they are used to it. At first it bothered me but now it doesn't. Like someone else kind of said; what's more eccentric, riding a bike at night or sitting in front of a picture tube for hours at a time and drinking fermented sugar? Less folks ride bikes at night but does that really make it eccentric? You've got to live your life!
I always carry mace and when I'm feeling particularly paranoid I carry a collapsible baton. I sometimes ride in remote river bottoms where mountain lions have been spotted but I don't feel my chances of encountering one are very good. I live in Illinois where citizens are banned from carrying guns or else I would probably carry one on some of my more remote rides..
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