You WILL use the cycle path...

Astoundingly, the Telford cyclist - Daniel Cadden - who was prosecuted for cycling on the carriageway instead of an adjoining cycle path was found guilty. See here

It sounds like the district judge had made his mind up and decided that Mr Cadden inconvenienced motorists where he could have reasonably used the cycle path. I am not aware of any law that requires a cyclist to use a cycle path and the road in question was not 'out of bounds' for cyclists. The judge dismissed evidence from an expert witnes (John Franklin of Cyclecraft fame), did not accept that cycle routes round the edge of roundabouts were dangerous or that poorly maintained cycle paths were potentially unsafe.

What a shocking decision. I sincerely hope this goes to appeal but if it is upheld then it is a very worrying precedent.

The new steed

Well new frameset actually. All other bits transferred from a bike that was a bit too big.