(08 Jan 2022, 11:59 am)54APhotography wrote I can recommend a bike to anyone, MTB or Road/Race.
I can get from Sunderland to Newcastle faster than a 56, and not far behind an X24. Can be in Whitley Bay before a 65, 309 or 306 thanks to the super quick cycleway along the A1058. Around Towns and Cities I can beat any form of transport and that's on the road and obeying traffic lights. Cross Country as well, quicker than a 78 from Sunderland to Chester, and by means of the old railway line from Vigo to Consett can get there before the 78 as well. On the road I ride a carbon bike that is under 8kg, so you'll understand I made that choice as primary transport and can use it to get to places like Alnwick, Hexham, Teesside. Not all can ride race bikes, but modern carbon mountain/cross bikes are great for commuting and leisure. The battery technology on electric bikes is spreading, and if you want spend £15k you can have a Scott electric race bike that takes 95% of the weight off.
I'll always recommend bike use, sadly our roads are populated by ignorant drivers, and bad cyclists who give us all a bad name.
Same here always reccommend bike usage, however it is quite dangeous with these so-called drivers who pass a test and think they rule the road and everyone on it has to move out of their way, or stop for them even if they don't have right of way etc...