I have a lot of variety in where I ride, we have lots of windy narrow roads but I try to ride where I have a bit more space between myself and the vehicles. We are on the edge of the mountains and the farm lands plus Spokane city riding is not far south. And YES I have to have an audiobook in my ear for sure!
They are clip shoes, as I'm shifting my mtn bike to more of a gravel road bike I will get a set of pedals for the shoes.