Jewellery Quarter

Richard reports:

Eight riders to the Jewellery Quarter on a very pleasant morning, in total contrast to Saturday's wet and windy ride.  Out via Birmingham-Worcester Canal, Harborne Walkway and Soho Loop. Return along Route 5 through City Centre and full length of new 'blue' cycle track along Bristol Road to Selly Oak. 

The route is here.

M and S, Longbridge

Two days after the hottest July day on record, today was wet - and not just a light shower, but continuous steady rain from beginning to end of the ride.  

Richard led a group of eight to M and S in Longbridge, returning by the direct route along the Rea Valley. 

The route is here.

Kanteen café at the Custard Factory

Steve led a group of six by a varied and intricate route to the Custard Factory in Digbeth.  We knew it was going to be interesting -  as Steve's rides always are - when we got to the canal at Bournville and headed out of town.  Parts of the route in the Sparkhill area were new to some of us.

An enjoyable ride on a warm and breezy day.

The route is here.

Sarehole Mill

Steve led a ride to Sarehole Mill, via an interesting route which took into account that the café doesn't open until 11.00, ie longer on the way out than on the way back.  A pleasant destination for a large group (there were seventeen of us) when it is dry and warm enough to sit in the courtyard, as it was today.

The route is here.

The Potting Shed, Lydiate Ash

Richard led an enjoyable ride to the Potting Shed, via Waseley and  Dayhouse Bank (down - up Dayhouse Bank is a killer) and skirting Fairfield.  

A cool and cloudy morning, followed, after we got back, by a warm and sunny afternoon.

Nine riders.

The route is here.

Woodgate Valley

John P led a large group - 24 of us - to Woodgate Valley.  Weather cloudy and cool.

The route is here.

Morso café, Alvechurch

John led a ride to Alvechurch, returning via the canal to Hopwood.  A cool and cloudy start, warming up later.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Two rides today

(i)  Costa Coffee, Gas Street Basin

For the shorter ride, Steve led a group of 11 riders through the University where two left us whilst we continued to ride around Edgbaston Reservoir to Costa at Gas Street Basin.  Very busy with two charity events taking place, both running and walking. 

The route is here.


(ii)   Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove

There were also eleven riders on the longer ride, to Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, Bromsgrove, the group's first visit to this café.  

A cloudy day, dry on the way out but a significant shower on the way home.

The route is here.

Earlswood garden centre

A pleasant breezy day.  Richard led us to Earlswood garden centre via the canal towpath.

Eight riders.

The route is here.