M'Eldy you must be near me! I work near Milton Keynes and commute on A5 or A43 or roads through Buckingham. I have not cycled on A5 but have seen people do so on the stretch nearer my end, Towcester way. A43 is maybe not so busy....
My bit of DC is a section of A43. Having driven up and down it yesterday my section is more cyclist friendly than other bits. However cars do race up there at over 70 which is the speed limit. Maybe because it's next time Silverstone There are particularly gritty bits of the hard shoulder. The junctions do have a sign for cyclists to dismount and cross at the shortest point but no other cycling lane info. I have never seen another cyclist on there, ever, and I do look out whilst on four and two wheels! I have another suggested B road route to try so I will probably do a combo, perhaps only hitting the DC on early mornings and avoiding at 4.30 Saturday afternoon.
Here's my dilemma! I have two possible routes to commute on a Saturday, one mainly on a dual carriageway with a baby hard shoulder I can use which is satisfactory when the road is not too busy but the junctions and roundabouts are fairly hairy. The other option is 25% further and double the hills and is a relatively narrow road so it can prove tricky for a car to be able to overtake as it can be quite windy too.
So what is best from a safety perspective? I can allow extra time and hills are obviously great training so either journey is viable. My cycling chums all seem to think country road but my logic tells me dual carriageway drivers have more room to overtake especially when I have the gutter to use!
Opinions, experiences and logic greatly appreciated as my hubby thinks dual carriageway is suicidal and I don't agree to be honest!
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hot fox
Enjoy! 
