Having been sexually assaulted, I can tell you that everyone has a plan until the crap hits the fan. Furthermore the threat is very real, do not make light of it, but do not ride in complete utter panic-attack style paranoia; you won't enjoy riding. I wasn't ***** on my commute/ride or anything, BUT PTSD being what it is, I'm always on my haunches.
Since then I've taken up some martial arts, mostly for physical conditioning. The bike helps with that too. I was a sedentary, lonely person and thus an easy target. He was someone I knew. The martial arts also helps me with balance and the physics of using someone's momentum against them. Also... and it's gross.. as a military man told me: Regardless of size or weight, everyone's eyeball can be gouged and nobody will like it.
