My usual route is about 3-4 miles farther (and 15' longer) than my oh $hit, I need to get there route which is about 3 miles farther than my in a car route. My usual route is 37 mi round trip and the modified route is only on the way home. I ride a loop as my to-work route is much more heavily traveled going home than going to work.

I also try to avoid as many traffic lights as possible and find a smaller street that intersections it at a stop sign. I find this pays off in the end especially with keeping the route time consistent between rides.

I do ride some portions of roads that I would have never thought I could ride from looking at a map. I found that by waiting for the right time at a light (or in a parking lot next to the intersection), I can make it about a mile without having hardly any cars around on an otherwise extremely busy road.