Costa Coffee, Shirley

A cold day, with ice in places, but bright sunshine.  We were surprised to discover that Coffee#1 in Shirley, which we visited three months ago, had disappeared.  We went instead to Costa Coffee, where Richard discovered that Coffee#1 had closed three weeks ago, now replaced by a branch of Tui. 

Six riders.

The route is here.

Woodgate Valley

A group of twenty led by Steve to Woodgate Valley, with some interesting twists and turns through Bartley Green and Northfield.

A mild-ish day, with a couple of showers and a rising blustery wind.

The route is here.

Thanks to John T for photos.

Earlswood garden centre

Seven riders to Earlswood garden centre.  A bitterly cold morning, with early mist/fog.  Slight improvement later, with glimpses of blue sky, but no warmer. 

The route is here.

Cannon Hill park

Drizzly and very cold.  Ten riders, led by John P, to our frequent bad weather destination, the café in Cannon Hill park.  John dealt swiftly with a puncture in his front tyre in Calthorpe Park, close enough to the café for everyone else to go on for slightly extended coffee break.

The route is here.

Burcot garden centre

Seven riders to Burcot garden centre, one of our hillier routes.

Calm mild day.

The route is here.

Maypole

Sixteen out on a mild but cloudy day, led by John P.  Alan had a serious mechanical mishap at the top of Primrose Hill when his derailleur gear managed to wrap itself into his wheel and he came to a sudden halt.  Luckily he did not come off.  A couple stayed with him to assist him to be able to walk/scoot home whilst the group carried on. 

This is the second time since Christmas we have had serious transmission problems resulting in a walk home.  Hopefully this won't continue!  

The route is here.

Thanks to John T for photos.

Kanteen café at the Custard Factory

Richard led a group of six on a mostly off-road ride to Digbeth.  As Latif's warehouse has moved to nearby Pickford Street and the café is not yet open at the new premises, we had coffee at the Kanteen café in the Custard Factory.

Weather mild and breezy.

The route is here.

Waseley Hills

An impressive turnout on a very cold day.  John P led a group of 19 to Waseley Hills, where, although the wood burning stove is still out of commission, it was warmer inside than out.

The route is here.