Sainsbury's at Longbridge

A large group for our last ride before Christmas.  John Bennett kindly treated all sixteen of us to coffee at Sainsbury's at Longbridge, after a ride via Northfield village.

The route is here.

Towpath, the Vale, Selly Oak

Very cold and frosty when we met at 10.00, with bright sunshine later on.  Seven riders on a route via the towpath to the Vale, Edgbaston Park Road and Selly Oak, to Bennie's for a Christmas get-together, where some other regular members of the group joined us. 

Many thanks to Bennie and Anne for hot drinks and a delicious spread of cakes and mince pies.

The route is here

Waseley Hills

A crisp cold sunny morning, and our first taste of icy conditions. Fifteen riders led by John and Hilary set off for Waseley Hills. Despite extra caution and slower progress than usual, there were a couple of spills which persuaded us to come back via the main road. Newtown Lane was particularly treacherous.

The route is here.

Harborne

15 out on a grey morning but mild.  John Bennett took us to Harborne by a very devious route and then on to Morrisons at Five Ways.  Back through Edgbaston and the Rea Valley Way.  Welcome to new member Richard.  Route is here

Moseley Village

Wet to start with but quite mild.  Eight riders made their way led by John Bennett to Moseley via Highbury Park.  Fortunately the rain stopped while we were having a coffee.  Made our way back via Cannon Hill and Selly Park. 

The route is here

City centre via towpath

Eleven riders, led by Hilary and John, to the city centre via the towpath.  Route back, after coffee at the Ikon gallery, via Cannon Hill Park and the Rea Valley route.  

The route is here

No ride

Heavy rain.  Only two of us turned up, so no ride today.

City centre

A ride from Bournville Station along canal to Brindley Place, with coffee at the Ikon Gallery, followed by John Bennett needing to fix a puncture (see John Tourt's pics below) - with 'help' & 'advice' from Carl.  Six riders.

Back along the Wolverhampton canal, through Summerfield Park, then via the Harborne walkway and the QE site to Bournville. 

  

Woodgate Valley

A large group - 19 riders - led by John Porter to Woodgate Valley.  Weather calm and mild.

John Tourt's photos, taken in Manor Farm Park and Bournville on the return ride:

Sainsburys at Maypole

A big group - 16 riders - on a ride to Sainsburys at Maypole led by Hilary and John.  

The route is here.

Barnes Hill

Ten riders led by Hilary and John through Manor Farm Park and Senneleys Park with a coffee stop at Asda on Barnes Hill

The route is here.

Waseley, Belbroughton

A group of six rode together as far as Waseley, where three stopped for coffee before returning, while the other three went on to Belbroughton.

No route information on the rides which took place on 13th and 20th September

Maypole

Ten riders led by John Bennett on a ride to the Maypole.  Weather calm and mild.

The route is here.

Gas Street Basin and Brindley Place

Cloudy cool morning with 14 riders out.  Managed to follow new canal towpath route to Gas Street Basin to Brindley Place for refreshments.  The path between University and The Vale was interesting and a bit rough, as work is still being carried out. 

The route is here

Woodgate Valley

Cool but dry ride with some sun to Woodgate Valley.  13 out.

The route is here

Waseley Hills

Ten riders led by John Porter on an enjoyable route in good weather to Waseley Hills.  

The route is here.

No ride

Five met at Rowheath but due to being a very wet morning no ride took place.

Bartley reservoir, Senneleys Park

Thirteen riders, led by John Bennett, on a very warm day.  Coffee stop was at Asda on Barnes Hill.  

The route is here.

The path which runs from Cob Lane roughly parallel with Bristol road, which was muddy in parts for most of the year, has been resurfaced.  It is now a pleasant walkway/cycleway, with rustic seats at intervals, and usable in all weathers.

Awful weather

Due to the heavy rain today, only four brave souls turned up at Rowheath one of whom was minus bike -  no names John!!  No run took place.

Gas Street Basin

Lovely hot day.  Ten riders led by John Bennett via the canal to a coffee stop in the city centre.  The towpath from Bournville to Selly Oak is being resurfaced, and was closed during the week, but seems to be open at weekends.  Surface rough, but rideable.  Back via Harborne walkway (lovely ride in welcome shade) and Weoley Castle.

The route is here.

Woodgate Valley

Eight riders on a cool cloudy day, with rain on the way back.  Two punctures, one mended by the roadside, the other unfortunately dealt with by a walk back to Selly Oak.

The route is here.

King's Heath

John Bennett led thirteen riders to a Go Green event in King's Heath.  On the way we joined a small group from Cycle South Brum and cycled with them from Bournville to King's Heath.  Our group returned to Bournville via Brandwood Road, the towpath of the Stratford canal and the Rea Valley route.

The route is here.

Canal towpath, Edgbaston, River Rea etc

Warm overcast morning.  13 out.  Meandered through Bournville to Selly Oak and through the University to join the canal.  Just before we got to the canal John T had to return home as his chain had broken (could be to do with unlucky 13!).  Also just after the canal tunnel another cyclist whilst trying to overtake our group when we had stopped to re-group by the tunnel, clipped a cyclist coming in the opposite direction, he nearly fell in the canal but did a remarkable recovery and only got his foot and the front wheel wet. JB had left the group early to attend a cycling meeting in town. 

Back through Edgbaston, Calthorpe Park and the River Rea cycle route to Stirchley.  

The route is here.

Sainsbury's, Longbridge

Seven out as weather forecast was showery.  One new rider.  John Bennett, having returned from his holiday, led the ride along Valley Parkway and through Northfield Park down to Quarry Lane and on to the River Rea route and a quick look round Longbridge Park as it had started to rain.  Nice coffee stop in Sainsbury's café.

Unfortunately we had to ride back in the rain which had come on quite heavily.

The route is here.

Cannon Hill Park

Eleven out, with three new riders.  Sunny day.  John and Hilary chose a route getting onto the canal near Wast Hills tunnel, then on to Lifford Lane, where we had to leave the canal as they are re-doing the towpath.  Joined the River Rea route to Cannon Hill Park cafe.  The return route was back to Stirchley on River Rea route and then up to Rowheath.  

The route is here.

No ride

Four hardy souls - John and Hilary, John T and Mike - turned up for a ride.  The weather was so bad that the group opted instead for coffee at Rowheath before going home, a decision which was vindicated when the rain didn't let up all day.

Kings Heath

John Tourt led eleven riders, including three new, to Kings Heath.

Barnt Green

Seven riders led by John and Hilary to Barnt Green, with a cafe stop at the Barnt Green Tea Room.

The route is here.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Twelve riders on a beautiful sunny day.  The route is here.

Woodgate Valley

A large group today - sixteen - for a ride to Woodgate Valley led by John and Hilary.  Weather dry and bright, but cold.  Back via Scotland Lane round Bartley reservoir.

The route is here.

Illshaw Heath

A longer ride to Illshaw Heath for five members of the Gentle Cycling group.  

The route is here.

Maypole

Ten riders led by John to Sainsbury's cafe at Maypole.  The destination wasn't new to us, but parts of the route were, with interesting diversions along paths and through parks in the area of the old Moneyhull Hall hospital.  Back via lanes to Kings Norton, Lifford Lane, Bournville.

The route is here.

Earlswood

A longer outing in beautiful spring sunshine.  John and Hilary led nine of the regular Saturday riders via the lanes to Earlswood Craft Centre for coffee, back via Wythall and Kings Norton.

The route is here.

Bournville - Five Ways - Edgbaston reservoir - Harborne

An easy ride in mild weather via the Rea Valley route to Cannon Hill Park, then through Edgbaston to Five Ways (coffee stop at Morrisons), back via Harborne Walkway, Harborne and Selly Oak. Seven riders.  Route is here.

Bournville - Harborne - QEH

A fine sunny day for a ride led by John T to Harborne via Selly Oak Park and Queens Park, with a coffee stop at QEH.  Eleven riders.

The route is here.

Bournville - Waseley

A fine day for a ride to Waseley led by John and Hilary.  The group split into two for the return trip, with Hilary leading three riders on a shorter ride back to Bournville via Egghill and Leyhill. The round trip route for the larger group (nine riders) is here.  

Joint ride with Push Bikes along Bristol Road

Cold and windy for our joint ride with Push Bikes along the joint use path beside Bristol Road from the University to Macdonalds. Twelve of us and a total turnout of approx 30 riders.  Coffee break in the café in Cannon Hill Park, back via Rea Valley.  Route is here.

Bournville - Senneleys Park

Very windy.  A relatively sheltered route to Senneleys Park, coffee break at Asda, back via Bournbrook walkway.  Eleven riders. Route is here.

Bournville - Lickey Hills

John and Hilary led a smaller group this week (seven riders) to the cafe at Lickey Hills golf club.  Cold and windy.  The route is here.

Bournville - Maypole

Too large a group (17) for the cafe at the Lickeys, so John and Hilary led a ride to the Maypole, where we had coffee at Sainsbury's. Weather fine, lanes very wet and muddy. The route is here.

Bournville - Cannon Hill Park

Many thanks to John Porter, whose description of the ride has been roughly mapped here.  Raining at the start, and some rain during the morning, but mostly a dry ride.  Eight riders, joined by Carl at the café at Cannon Hill.  Ride led by John and Hilary.

Bournville - Longbridge

Sainsbury's in Longbridge via Rea Valley, back via Turves Green and Austin Village.  Fifteen riders, weather fine, bright and cold. The route is here.

Bike maintenance

No ride on 28th December.  On 4th January we had a well-attended (17 people) session on basic bike maintenance in a room at Rowheath pavilion, including:

• demonstrations of removing wheels and changing an inner tube
•  guidance on oiling and greasing 
• replacing brake blocks
• advice on the proper fit of a helmet
• advice on tools/parts to take on rides

Thanks to John Porter, Carl and Kay.