Sainsbury's, Maypole

Twelve riders, led by Richard, to Sainsbury's at Maypole via a slightly different route from usual, returning via parts of our usual outward route.  

Breezy and dry going, slightly damp on the return following a shower while we were in the café. 

The route is here.

Two rides today

(i)  Studley garden centre

An enjoyable, if very hot (hottest bank holiday Monday since - who knows?), longer ride led by John P to Studley garden centre.  A replacement inner tube successfully solved the problem of a back wheel puncture on the way out.   When it deflated again on the return, it was impressively dealt with by Guy's slime sealant and Matthew's Co2 pump.

Ten riders.

The route is here.


(ii)  Warley Woods

On the shorter ride, Steven led nine riders to Warley Woods, on an increasingly hot day.  The route out was via the Harborne Walkway and Lightwoods Park, with the return including the hidden path through Harborne Golf Club, Bournbrook Walkway and Selly Oak Park.

The route is here.

Woodgate Valley

A warm and sunny start to the bank holiday weekend.  John P led a group of nineteen riders to Woodgate Valley country park.

The route is here.

Morso café, Alvechurch

Seven riders led by Richard to Morso café in Alvechurch.

One short light shower as we left Alvechurch on the return, but otherwise dry.  

The route is here.

Sandwell Valley and Sutton Park

A dry day with a blustery wind for Steve's enjoyable longer ride to Sutton Park.  We stopped for coffee at the café in Sandwell Valley and for lunch at the café near the park's Town Gate.

Eleven riders.

Thanks to Richard O for the photo.

The route is here.

M & S Moseley

On a bright but windy morning JP led a group of 10 riders to Moseley via the Stratford Canal and Cole Valley.  It clouded over and threatened rain whilst at the café which fortunately did not happen.
The route is here

Ambleside garden centre

After calling off our Saturday ride amid rain and high winds, a relief to have a pleasant day for cycling.  A cool breeze, no rain and some sun for a ride to Ambleside garden centre near Earlswood.

Ten riders.

The route is here.

Weather woes

Despite a forecast of strong winds and heavy rain, eight hopefuls turned up at Rowheath for a ride.  Unfortunately, as it turned out, the heaviest rain and strongest wind of the morning coincided with what would have been our departure time.  We decided to call off the ride, a rare event, and never before in August.  Later in the morning the weather improved significantly. 

Rafters café, Rubery

We discovered when we got there from a notice on the door that the café at Waseley closed at the end of July when the tenant left.  They hope to reopen with a new tenant in September and to make temporary arrangements in August to fill the gap, but it is not clear if, or when, this will happen.  Probably best to choose other destinations for the next few weeks at least.

We went on to Rafters café in Rubery.

Six riders.  

The route is here. 

Two rides today

(i)  Longer ride 

John led an enjoyable hilly longer ride, with a coffee stop at Clent garden centre.  The climb up Great Farley Woods defeated all ten of us for at least some of its length, but at least we all managed the walk.  

Lovely countryside and a nice warm summer day.

The route is here.


(ii)  Regular ride 

Steven led thirteen to Morrisons at Five Ways.  At John Bennett's behest, the group went into town along the new A38 cycle path (after which John B. returned home), before a back-road route through Westside.  Return was via the Harborne Walkway, with what turned out to be a serendipitous route past Harborne, after a rare wrong turn by Steven.

The route is here.