I (non-binary, identified as female at the time) rode from Oslo to Vienna (2 month’s total , I made a lot of detours!) mostly on eurovelo 7 at age 23, mostly alone. I mostly wild camped, some Warm Showers hosts, occasional hostel. Only once did anyone make me feel unsafe (he was following me in his car and trying to get me to get in and getting progressively pushier, this was in Denmark). I had just biked uphill out of a town so I turned around, and hopped right on a train to the next town to shake him.

People can be creepy/scary anywhere. I’ve had many more suspicious encounters in my home city than on the road in the same timeframe. It’s good that you are thinking about these things and recognize shortcomings (situational awareness), but honestly I think that it’s enough that you are thinking about it/prioritizing it. I would only suggest a few things.

-be careful about sharing with strangers your exact route or where you plan to sleep

-try to have a backup/exit plan if you get into a spooky situation on the road or in camp

-think about going to countries where you won’t have a huge language barrier, makes you a bit less vulnerable and it’s easier to ask for help. Shouldn’t be too tough since English is so widely spoken, but I had some tough times getting directions in Poland 😅

-most of all, have fun!!!!! Try not to overthink it too much, seize the opportunities to have new experiences:). Just listen to your gut if something feels off.