I used to regularly cycle to work via some bits of NCN route.
These days I'm more likely to take the direct route through town, which is shorter and faster.
Things I like about the NCN route: the bit beside the river.
Things I like about the direct route: it's shorter, and I don't feel that I've been forced into a ghetto.
What I don't like about the NCN route: to get to the truly away from road nice route, I have to cycle up Airport Way. This has a shared use pavement. As it's past an airport, driveways aren't a problem. But crossing the roundabout at the north end is a problem, because you are crossing the path of vehicles leaving the roundabout to get to the island, and then of those joining to get from the island to the far side. And if you cycle on the 60mph road then you get the abuse. Once you get to the P&R site the route ducks through there, so blind corners & junctions galore. Then you get a nice section of path alongside a field, away from the road. On the problem is the dogs, and their poo, and the occasional moped. Into a housing estate and over some speed humps, then cross Ditton Lane where there's a ped crossing (not a toucan or any other cycle crossing, a ped crossing) to access the next part of the route, which is a bit narrow. Then you have a junction with another part of the cycle route, with poor visibility followed by a very twisty section with poor sight lines, and then out onto the nice part of the path. It doesn't last though because you have to negotiate a very narrow bridge which is built out under the railway bridge over the river, with poor sight lines, then again onto a proper section of path but watch out for dogs running out in front of you as you cross a cattle grid again with zero visibility that they are coming. Then back onto the roads, crappy mini roundabout, drivers overtaking in stupid places, arrive at work quite fed up. On the way home the same in reverse, but add that if it's dark because the Airport Way cycle path is only on one side, you are blinded by the car head lights and can't see a fucking thing.
Things I don't like about the direct route. Well, actually, it's mostly cycle facilities that are the problem again. Narrow cycle lanes with stupid islands that you have to duck to the left of (into a badly maintained bypass) or to the right of (risking abuse and/or worse). Then a quite long stretch of actual road, but the drivers are impatient so it doesn't get much better, then a long stretch of non-mandatory cycle lane next to parked cars, i.e. stupid place to cycle, but cycling outside the lane risks abuse and/or worse. Then normal roads where it's not too bad apart from approaching the Chesterton Rd/Liz Way junction where drivers seem to think it's mandatory to cut you up.
When I write it down it's clear that the NCN route has more design faults. I foolishly decided to cycle home that way last month after a bad day at work, when I wanted to chill out, but the combination of walkers, joggers, idiots on bikes, and a pissed off me, was pretty toxic.
