As Skipjacks eloquently said:
"You should be scared. It is dangerous.
That fear keeps you alert and keeps you alive. It makes you hyper aware of your surroundings so you see danger developing before it happens. That fear is good.
But it should be a mild fear, not a paralyzing fear. The fear shouldn't overpower your enjoyment. But a little fear....it a very healthy thing."
We recently moved to a semi-rural area very popular with cyclists. I ride a 25-mile loop (alone) on narrow two-lane country roads with no shoulders three mornings each week. It is scary and, perhaps, a bit dangerous. I use a mirror & lights, wear helmet & brightly colored garments, and ride defensively. If I could choose recreational trails or group rides instead, I would. Unfortunately, the few available trails wouldn’t give me the convenience of riding from my door or the climbing I need to do for my training, and the group rides available are all too fast for me (I’m old). So, this is who I am and this is what I need to do.