bike or death...

...has always felt like the choice here in Boston. But I miss my bike! I am not a particularly graceful bike rider, or a competitive one, or even a very successful one, but I love it. I learned how to put one together, and when it broke on a rainy night in Portland, how to fix it myself. I have been known to slam my fist on the back of a few cars who cut me off (thanks to Chris for teaching me that one in SF) and ride to the beach, music in my ears and feet balancing on the pedals, flying around a corner in SF. I want Dodai's bike.

Boston has always intimidated me on a bike, though - the streets here are so intensely ass-backwards that I have a hard time even driving around here. Not to mention how many times I've nearly been clipped just walking across the street. The Boston ethos of traffic seems to be "don't look, just go". I haven't had a bike the whole time I've lived here, and I miss it. I really, really want to ride. But where? and why? and how?

Does anyone in Boston who is not a crazy fixie bike messenger type (although I love you all) ride here? What is the strategy? How is it done? Should I just shut up and stop being a pussy, or what?