DickBarton, have you fallen for the marketing trap that says cars are better than horses for getting places on roads?
Nothing to do with better or worse. Sure, cars are more efficient most of the time but both do basically the same job.
Same with bikes - you can get round Glentress and Innerleithen on a full rigid without too many problems. Some parts will be slower, you may ache a bit more afterwards but it's doable and to some people that's the fun of it.

