I rode my bike through the bike boom. I was stationed for a good part of that at Scott AFB in Illinois. We did two self-supported multi-day tours through the general area (Illinois, Missouri) and I don't recall ever seeing another cyclist outside of a few college towns that we passed through. I also commuted to college from the base, round trip of about 25 miles. I don't recall ever seeing another cyclist on one of those rides, either. It was weird...that the bikes were flying out of the shops, and I suppose they were popping up on people's walls or something, ala seinfeld.