Getting lost and cycling near the city bypass

This week I tried to cycle home from Little France and accidentally ended up in Straiton. I got to a road which I thought was one I recognised, but it turns out it was a different road going south rather than west...

I ended up confused near the city bypass. This is not a great place to be with a bicycle.  Luckily the entrances to the bypass were clearly labelled with big keep out unless you are in a massive metal vehicle signs, so I didn't accidentally end up on one, and there were shared use paths for pedestrians and cyclists. I made it to the retail park without too much bother, and had a nice coffee and rest, but to get back into the city it seemed the only way was to cross over lots of roads with fast traffic to get back to somewhere you were allowed to cycle on. The crossings were marked for pedestrians, and I mostly became one at this point, but it didn't seem very safe crossing over roads with cars going very very fast to the motorway.

Then I had to cycle back all the way on roads which I found various degrees of terrifying. (apart from the bits I walked because they were a bit uphill and I was tired).

I generally avoid cycling on roads, unless I get lost, or know them well. I tend to stick to cycle paths wherever I can. I don't like cycling near cars and I am afraid of buses and lorries.

Over the time I have cycled my attitude to cycling on roads has gone from:

• terrified to cycle on roads and sticking completely to paths, usually walking between them

to

• not so terrified of cycling on roads and doing a bit more of it

to

• terrified of roads again having started to understand more about what cars and buses aren't supposed to do, and don't always.

I eventually got home, about 3 hours later than I should have. Exhausted and desperate for a shower. I don't recommend cycling to Straiton, especially accidentally. I should make more uses of maps rather than vaguely heading in the direction I think I should (or at the very least have my phone charged to more than 2% battery so I can look them up properly)