General Question

[Westinghouse]

Your concern for safety, heavy traffic, and noise too are absolutely germain to the subject. I tour and camp. It gives me a heard edge I like, but I hate going days without a shower. Get specially mapped routes for cycling. It may be the best you can hope for. On my last transcontinental tour the noise levels were completely unreasonable. It does make a big difference which roads you take when you are out there in it.

[whittierider]

Your helmet shifts around?  My glasses shift around more than my helmet.  Perhaps you don't have the helmet adjusted/fastened right?

I have two helmets, both very comfortable, but one fits more snug than the other.  Actually, it fits very snug.  But since the top of the head is somewhat spherical, it makes sense that the helmet can rotate on it a little, and they both do.  My glasses are prescription glasses, fitted by the people at the optometrist's, and they stay put very well.

[rvklassen]

Your helmet shifts around?  My glasses shift around more than my helmet.  Perhaps you don't have the helmet adjusted/fastened right?

But since the top of the head is somewhat spherical, it makes sense that the helmet can rotate on it a little, and they both do.  My glasses are prescription glasses, fitted by the people at the optometrist's, and they stay put very well.

I didn't realize heads varied that much in horizontal cross section.  I wouldn't use "somewhat spherical" to describe mine.  At this point I don't have prescription glasses, so I'm fortunate to be in the non-spherical camp.

[Bikearound]

If you've done a good deal of riding as you say, I doubt you'll encounter any situations while touring that you haven't already encountered and successfully negotiated. The beauty of touring is that you can choose your route, and the line from point A to point B is never straight. I wouldn't worry about it so much if I were you. I've come to realize that touring can become so way over thought that it keeps some from even getting to square one. Just ride and figure it out...that's where the fun is. If you want 100% safety then your couch may be your only option.