You want strong and fearless? I go on multi-day hikes without rain gear in bear and mountain lion country (I have pictures of scat and tracks of both animals). I eat 1500-2000 calories a day, hardly enough to stay alive when I walk all day long. I leave my cell phone at home (no reception anyway). I go where I can be more than one day away from a road. Nobody can save me. I've even done this alone. And I'm a woman.

Riding a bike in traffic is neither crazy and stupid nor strong and fearless. It's just another way to get around in a city where you're no more than 5 minutes from emergency rescue. A lot of people say stuff like "wow, you're so brave" or "wow, you're so strong" or whatever. It's meaningless. Why NOT ride your bike to work? The weather is so nice, the experience feels good, it's no hardship at all.