I ride past a prairie dog village, a cemetery, and through an industrial park over several railroad tracks and on roads worn by heavy truck traffic. I leave at 2:00 AM, so I usually don't encounter much traffic on my way to work, but coming home it's the beginning of lunch hour.
I commute on an old Specialized Hardrock (hardtail, steel frame, no shock and a saddle that pre-dates anatomic design). I have a relatively short commute and work in a refrigerated warehouse, so I don't have to worry about cleaning up.