Depends on the length and kind of ride. I usually go for the USAAF bike for its versatility comfort, and that cars give a more respectful distance (it's strikingly different). I think with the military theme, my usual drab color palette, and the olive or sand boonie hat I wear for sun protection people assume I'm a vet so, while I'll get compliments, they don't bother me too much. I'm an odd duck in that I build these attention-getting things, yet don't actually want to talk to people! The rocket bike gets distant thumbs up, but I suspect their suspicions about the kind of weirdo who'd ride such a thing keeps them from initiating conversation. Interrobang gets the most approaches because it looks something like a 50s ballooner to most people (but not a "Pee Wee Herman" bike) and that's a positive enough association for people to think I'm a friendly badger. And few people notice my antique Iver Johnson or the newer "Iver Johnson" road bike at all. It's good that I live in New England, I guess, as we keep conversation with strangers to a minimum. When I went to school in Detroit, people were friendlier and I'd smile and respond while readying myself for action and looking around for handy weapons any time some weirdo just randomly started a conversation because here people just don't talk to strangers in an elevator at 3 AM (or 2 PM for that matter) unless they're trying to sell you something or themselves and I ain't buying people—in my experience, they're way overpriced.
(I'm not actually as misanthropic as this makes me sound.)
