Compared to most here, my total miles cycled on the road in my life pales in comparison. Like I've mentioned a few times, I'm a runner who has logged over 60,000 miles running over 30 years, many of them on the road.

I can say I've never had any aggressive actions towards me in my limited experiences on the road. My apprehension to riding on the road in LA comes from the cars coming within a few feet of you with no regard to slowing down. Also sucking the exhaust from their cars. Add in running stop lights and signs, not "seeing you" despite you're wearing screaming bright orange/yellow/lime.

I get it with regard to "get over it" or "just do it". I've run in both NYC and Rome, two of the most harrowing experiences with cars I've ever had. But my feelings were...sc**w it, I'm getting in my run regardless of the cars. There's definitely a point, if we all end up doing all this stuff long enough, where as runners or cyclists you have to develop that sense of "no fear". If we didn't, we'd be running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike at the gym...how much fun is that of course..

My wife is a lifetime auto insurance claims manager. She's currently with Automobile Club (AAA) of Southern Ca. She works at home and is constantly showing me the latest bike or motorcycle accident (in fact as I'm typing this, her adjustor on speaker phone is telling her about the latest accident involving a cyclist) that as come in on her computer...pictures and all. Yesterday it was some guy who wiped out on his $14,000 Pinerallo coming down Angeles Crest on Christmas day. A car had forced him into the side of the mountain on one of the sections with a very narrow shoulder. The guy's banged up pretty good but will live. Of course in typical RB fashion, all he cares about is if the Auto Club will cover his bike... She told me that bikes and motorcycles make up for at least 35% of the claims. Many of them (she estimates 60%) fatal or end up with the cyclist being in a wheelchair.

Every time I go out on my RB she gives me a Saying ..."why can't you just ride on the mountain bike and do the trails?" I come back with..."I gotta try and keep what little road chops I have up". Her..."ok but make sure you have your phone with you and where are you going ?! ". Me..."got it and over to the Rose Bowl, the usual "..

One of her fellow claims manager's husband is a former LAPD/CHP motorcycle cop. He's rolled those things more times then I can remember she said. He's retired and still likes to ride with other ex-cop buds. She threatened to divorce him if he didn't sell the motorcycle. He did got a bike and now just tools around the bike path down by the beach....she's ok with that.

As I'm typing this I'm putting on my shorts. Temps have risen a bit and morning rush hour has cleared out. I'm heading out for my 20 miler over to the Rose Bowl and back.