Costa Coffee, city centre

A damp morning, with rain on the way home.  Once again we found The Exchange closed: it looks as if no-one updates their website during holidays.  We went to Costa Coffee instead.

Eight riders.

The route is here.

M and S, Longbridge

Only five on Christmas Eve, led by Steven on a crooked route to M&S Longbridge, where Sarah (out shopping) joined us for coffee, with the return leg featuring the former route of the Rubery and Frankley Railway.  It was the first ever BGC ride to have a majority of riders (Richard, Jane M and Jane F) on electric bicycles.

The route is here.

Cherry Reds café, city centre

At last a ride, following a sudden and dramatic rise in temperature.  Unfortunately there was also a howling gale and some light rain, but OK for a short outing to the city centre.  Coffee break was at Cherry Reds after we discovered that The Exchange was closed.

Six riders.

The route is here.

Still freezing

Yet another very cold and frosty morning, so another ride cancelled.

Still no sign of a thaw

The last BGC ride was on Monday 5th December.  This could be our longest period yet of cancelled rides.

Another cold day

Freezing temperatures continue.  A small group met for coffee at Bournville Garden Centre, but not on bikes.

No ride today

The first hard frost of the year - freezing cold, ice on puddles - so no ride today.

Morso café, Alvechurch

John led a group of four to Morso cafe, Alvechurch.  A short ride on a damp chilly morning.  

The route is here.

Waseley Hills

John led ten riders to Waseley Hills.

A very cold morning, with a stiff breeze.   Good views on the way home during a brief sunny spell.

The route is here.

Desco Lounge, Shirley

Richard reports  "Just four of us braved the cold, damp conditions today.  Weather improved as we got to the Desco Lounge, Shirley.  A kingfisher sighting on the Stratford Canal lightened the day."

The route is here.

Henley-in-Arden

A damp and misty start for a ride to Costa Coffee in Henley-in-Arden, soon followed by bright sunshine and good views over the countryside.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Cannon Hill Park

Two groups - seven led by John, eight by Steven - went to the MAC in Cannon Hill Park.  

A dry cloudy morning.

John's route is here, 

Steven's (here) went out by way of Northfield's Victoria Park, and back joining the blue route at Pebble Mill after a new previously untried section.  

The Potting Shed, Lydiate Ash

Surprisingly, after a very wet start to the day where everyone thought the ride would be cancelled, the sun suddenly came out.

Richard led a group of six by a familiar route to the Potting Shed at Lydiate Ash.  It remained sunny and dry until a mile from home, when there was a brief downpour.

The route is here.

No ride today

Persistent heavy rain from early morning, so no Monday ride today.

Starbucks, Maypole

Seventeen riders in two groups, led by Richard and Steven, to Starbucks at Maypole.   

Steven took six on an urban route, including Brandwood End Cemetery and a few new bits - route  here.

Richard led eleven via a rural route, returning along the canal - route here.

A bright chilly morning.

Community café, Alvechurch

Richard led eleven riders to Alvechurch via a route which is more familiar in the other direction, ie down Hopwood hill, along Bittell Farm road and on to the towpath.

Despite the chilly weather, we sat outside the community cafe, as it was busy inside, as was Morso..  

The route is here.

Courtyard café, Tardebigge

A mild, misty and damp morning for a ride to the Courtyard café at Tardebigge.

The route is here.

Warley Woods

Fifteen riders, in two groups, both to Warley Woods.  John led seven by this route, returning via Woodgate Valley and Bartley reservoir.  Richard's group of eight went this way.

A mild calm morning, sunny on the way home.

Starbucks, Maypole

Richard led eleven riders on a mystery tour to a new destination, Starbucks at the Maypole, a possible alternative café for Saturday rides, following the closure of Sainsbury's café across the road.  We recognised much of the route from other rides, but were kept guessing where we were heading until we were nearly there.

Our route is here.  For a Saturday ride, we would probably take a shorter route, similar to our rides to Sainsbury's café.

Earlswood garden centre

John led a group of five the long way round to Earlswood garden centre, while a breakaway group of two took the usual easier route.

The longer route is similar to this.

The Roundhouse and Waseley Hills

Steven led nine riders to a stop at the Roundhouse near the Birmingham Canal.  The outward journey was along the Harborne Walkway with the return on the towpath. It rained a bit before the break but was clear after.

The route is here.

John led five to Waseley Hills.  The route is here.

A damp chilly morning.  Puddles, dead leaves and spitting rain.

Manor Tea Rooms, Earlswood

Richard led a damp and windy ride to the Manor Tearooms at Earlswood.  Having to dodge falling branches and wet leaves, six riders managed to complete the ride.

The route is here.

Espresso Cafe Dorridge Station

 Five out on mild and dry morning.  Fairly busy route with a lot of traffic.  Mathew, Richard O, Jane, John & Hilary. The route is here

Cannon Hill via Moseley

10 out on a mild but damp morning.  Richard led us via Moseley to the MAC.  

The route is here

Lower Park Fisheries, Redditch

A mild and very windy morning for a ride led by Richard to Lower Park Fisheries.  We followed a familiar route out, via Icknield Street and Beoley, and a new route for part of the way home, via a paved road which leads from the café to Storrage Lane.  An enjoyable hilly ride.

Six riders.

The route is here.

Willi's café, Studley

John led a group of four to Studley in dry, breezy weather - until we were caught in a heavy downpour only a couple of miles from home.

The route is here.

Beckett's Farm and Bartley Green reservoir

Eighteen riders today, divided into two groups.  

Richard led nine to Beckett's Farm - route here.

Steven took ten to Bartley Green Reservoir by a mostly familiar route, although with use of the very new towpath-entrance from the estate on the former grounds of Selly Oak Hospital.  Unfortunately, the café was shut for staff holidays, so the stop was sans coffee.

The route is here.

A mild sunny morning.

Morso café, Alvechurch

Richard led ten riders to Morso in Alvechurch. 

A bright mild morning with a strong breeze.

Ten riders.

The route is here.

Packwood House

A bright, sunny, breezy day for an outing to Packwood House.

Five riders.

The route is here.

The Potting Shed, Lydiate Ash

Steven set out with twelve for Singletons garden centre, where the service was abysmally slow.  Hilary had a flat tyre in Longbridge, so she and John caught up at the stop.  Some chose to take a more direct route home, with most others following them, thus a very depleted group returned via Frogmill Walk. The weather was sunny and milder than expected.

The route is here.

The Stables, Illshaw Heath

Richard led nine riders to The Stables at Illshaw Heath.  

Cool, breezy, some sun later.

The route is here.

The Cowshed, Wootton Wawen

John led a group of five to the Cowshed at Wootton Wawen.  

A bright sunny breezy day, with lovely views.  The breeze turned into a strong headwind on the way back.

The route is here.

Desco Lounge, Shirley

Steven guided twelve to Desco Lounge in Shirley.  As nobody objected, a slightly longer route back was taken, joining the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal from a new housing estate in Solihull Lodge.

A beautiful sunny day.

The route is here.

Waseley Country Park

On a damp and windy start five riders John, Hilary, Sandra, Phil and Mathew went to Waseley.  Fortunately, we are now able to sit inside the cafe as after coffee it got wetter and wetter.

Ride is here 

The Potting Shed, Lydiate Ash

John led a group of eight to the Potting Shed at Lydiate Ash via a hillier than usual route which included Waseley, The Gutter and Catshill.  There were more hills - Alvechurch Highway and Beacon Hill - on the way home.  

Three riders added an extra loop after the coffee break.

A fine early autumn day.

The route is here.

The Roundhouse in the city centre and Cannon Hill Park

John led a group of seven on our first visit to the Roundhouse, off the canal in the city centre.  Route out was via the Harborne Walkway and Edgbaston reservoir, which was the lowest we've seen it - not much bigger than a large puddle.

The route is here.

Steven led another group, also of seven, to the MAC in Cannon Hill Park, out via Northfield's Victoria Park, and back by way of Balsall Heath's Calthorpe Park.

The route is here.

A mild sunny breezy day.

Garrity café, Barnt Green

Richard led 12 riders via an unusual route which included some new and hilly stretches, notably  Alvechurch Highway from Lydiate Ash to Old Birmingham Road.  As often with uphills, there were also some attractive downhills, eg Twatling Road towards Barnt Green village.

Fairly chilly start, with warm sunshine as we sat outside at the café.

The route is here.

Earlswood garden centre

 ....the long way round.  

Cool, windy, sunny intervals, a couple of brief showers.  

Five riders.

The route is here.

Warley Woods

Bright sunshine and a chilly wind for Richard's ride to Warley Woods golf club.

Fifteen riders.

The route is here.

Arrow Valley

Richard reports that after, after a cold start, it was very pleasant and warm when reaching Arrow Valley and on the journey back.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Waseley Hills

Two groups, of nine and seven, led by John and Steve, to Waseley Hills by slightly different routes,

A cool early autumn day.

The routes are here and here.

The Potting Shed, Lydiate Ash

A bright and breezy day.  Richard led eight riders to the Potting Shed at Lydiate Ash.

The route is here.

The Exchange, city centre

Short ride to see the temporary garden in Victoria Square.  Dry on the way out, wet on the way home.

Four riders.

The route is here.

Brindley Place, city centre

A large group today.  Steven led 17 riders via the blue route to Brindley Place in the city centre, returning via Harborne Walkway.  

A mild dry morning.

The route is here.

Bromsgrove garden centre

Richard led 12 riders to Bromsgrove garden centre in Littleheath Lane, Lickey End.  

A dry morning, which was lucky as there were heavy showers in the afternoon.

The route is here.

Costa Coffee, Henley-in-Arden

A select group this morning: Mathew led three riders to Costa Coffee in Henley-in-Arden.

The route is here.

Sarehole Mill

Steve led a group of twelve via a roundabout route to Sarehole Mill.  

A warm cloudy morning.

The route is here.

The Stables, Illshaw Heath

Richard led seven riders to The Stables at Illshaw Heath.  

A breezy day, warm in the sun but a hint of autumn in the air.

The route is here.

Cherry Lane garden centre, near Clent

A cool cloudy morning for a hilly ride to Cherry Lane garden centre, led by John.

Five riders.

The route is here. 

Beckett's Farm

Two groups, of seven and nine, led by John and Richard to Beckett's farm, where there was a long and slow-moving queue in the café.

John's route is here.

Richard's route is here.

Desco Lounge, Shirley

Richard led ten riders to the Desco Lounge in Shirley.  

Cloudy, warm, with a fine misty rain.

The route is here. 

The Potting Shed

Eight riders to the Potting Shed at Lydiate Ash.

The route is here.

Bartley sailing club

A breezy ride to Bartley sailing club.

Twelve riders.

The route is here.

Earlswood garden centre

After days of extreme heat, a cool damp and breezy ride to Earlswood garden centre.

Eight riders.

The route is here.

Arrow Valley

Six riders on a warm but cloudy morning. 

The route is here.

Costa NIA and Edgbaston Reservoir

Fourteen out on a very hot day to NIA Costa via Harborne Walkway and Edgbaston Reservoir. 

The route is here

Morso café, Alvechurch

Richard led a very hot ride to Morso café in Alvechurch.

Ten riders.

The route is here.

Baddesley Clinton

John led a 38 mile round trip to Baddesley Clinton.  Hot and sunny, though slightly cooler than the weather we are expecting later in the week.

Four riders.

The route is here.

Kings Heath Park and Warley Woods

Steven led a group of five to Kings Heath Park, with a tour of Billesley Common on the way there, and a trip through Highbury Park on the way back.

The route is here.

Richard led eight riders to the golf club at Warley Woods, out through Harborne and back via Quinton, Bournbrook Walkway and the canal from Selly Oak.

The route is here.

A warm sunny day with a breeze.

City centre

An expedition to see the Commonwealth Games bull, which was the main attraction at the opening ceremony and is now in Centenary Square.  Richard led via the Cole Valley and the towpath from the Ackers.  Coffee break in Brindley Place.  

Warm and sunny after a cloudy start.

Eight riders.

The route is here.

Thanks to Carol for the photo of the bull and to Guy for the photo of the group

Cutnall Green

John led a group of six via Belbroughton and Chaddesley Corbett to Lord Morton's tea rooms in Cutnall Green.   

A warm and sunny morning.

The route is here.

Manor Tea Rooms, Earlswood

A change of meeting place, and a rare destination for a Saturday ride.  At Richard's suggestion, we went out of town to Manor Tea Rooms at Earlswood. to avoid road closures between Bournville and the city centre on the route of the Commonwealth Games marathon.  

Eleven riders.  A cool and cloudy morning.

The route is here.

The Potting Shed

Fortunately we weren't affected by road closures for the arrival of the Commonwealth Games Queen's baton at Rowheath this morning, because by 10.00 the baton had moved on.  

Richard led a group of eight to the Potting Shed at Lydiate Ash, with a slight diversion via Chadwich Lane when we found Quantry Lane blocked even to cyclists by road works near the tip.

Warm, dry, mostly cloudy.

The route is here.

Henley-in-Arden

John led a group of seven to Costa Coffee in Henley-in-Arden.  

Cloudy, warm breeze, very slight rain on the way home.

The route is here.

Jewellery Quarter

Steve led 13 riders to the Jewellery Quarter.  

The route took in a pop-up park in Great Hampton Row where Commonwealth Games events will be live-streamed.  The park features a replica of a King Kong statue which was originally on display in Birmingham for six months in 1972.  

The route is here.

Thanks to Carol for the photos.

Beckett's Farm

An astonishing drop in temperature following the sweltering heat of yesterday.  Cool and cloudy for a ride to Beckett's Farm via paths to Hawkesley (led by Steve) and lanes from Primrose Hill (led by Richard).

Eight riders.

The route is here.

Earlswood garden centre

A hot day with a welcome breeze for a pleasant ride to Earlswood garden centre.

Four riders.

The route is here.

Morso café, Alvechurch and Sarehole Mill

John led a group of eight to Morso café in Alvechurch, returning via the canal as far as Wast Hills Lane.  The towpath is narrow and rutted in places, but the scenery on a warm summer's day is lovely.

The route is here.

Steven took seven to Sarehole Mill, as usual following the River Cole route from Ackers in Small Heath.

The route is here.

Lower Park Fisheries, Redditch

A 20 mile round trip to a new destination.  We were given a friendly welcome at the the café at the fisheries, which is open every day and has plenty of outdoor and indoor seating.

The route is here.

Rowberry's garden centre, Chaddesley Corbett

A hot day for a ride to Rowberry's garden centre at Chaddesley Corbett.

Four riders.

The route is here. 

Lizzie's Farm

Surprisingly with such fine weather just eight attended, led by Steven to Lizzie's Farm, outward mostly by Route 5, returning through Gannow Park and along Frogmill Walk.

The route is here.

Sheldon country park

Steven led eleven riders to the café in Sheldon country park.  

Dry and mostly warm, though cloudy and breezy at times.

The route is here.

Umberslade farm park

Cloudy breezy morning for a ride to Umberslade farm park.

Six riders.

The route is here.

Bartley sailing club

A cool cloudy morning with a steady fine drizzle.  Steven led 14 riders to Bartley sailing club via Woodgate Valley.

The route is here.

Waseley Hills and Kanteen café, Custard Factory

Two rides today.  

Steven took five on this convoluted route, incorporating Fox Hollies Park, Jubilee Park in Olton, Lyndon Playing Fields, and the towpath of the Grand Union, to the Kanteen café at the Custard Factory.'

The remaining six riders went to Waseley Hills. The route is here.

Earlswood garden centre

A heavy shower for most of the ride out, dry on the way back, and some welcome warm sun as we arrived home.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Costa Coffee, city centre

Steven took a group of twelve, including new rider Helen, to the Costa by the NIA, out by the Harborne Walkway and reservoir, returning along the towpath. There were showers, but fortunately the heavy one was during the stop.

The route is here.

King's Heath park

A warm and sunny day for Steven's ride via a roundabout route to King's Heath park.  

The route, including Cartland Road, where some riders diverted from the group, is here.

Nine riders.

Packwood House

Brian led an enjoyable brisk circular ride to Packwood House, out via Tanworth, back via Hockley Heath.  

Mostly bright and sunny, with a breeze.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Rained off

The weather forecast turned out to be all too accurate.  After the hottest day of the year yesterday, the four who turned up at Rowheath on Saturday surveyed the rain and decided to call off the ride.  

Belbroughton

The best weather so far this year.  A warm and sunny day for a ride to Belbroughton, led by Richard, going out via a route where most of the hills were down.  There were, of course, a few uphills coming back, but this route was an easier way round than the reverse would have been.

Ten riders.

The route is here.

Arrow Valley

John led a group of six to Arrow Valley, via Tardebigge on the way out and Carpenters Hill and Seafield Lane on the way back.

Cloudy start, warmer and sunny later. 

The route is here.

Beckett's Farm and Desco Lounge, Shirley

Steven took six to the Desco Lounge in Shirley, by way of Billesley Common and Trittiford Mill Lake on the way out, and some canals on the return.

The route is here.

John led nine to Beckett's Farm.

The route is here.

A shower as we left Rowheath, and another as we returned,  Otherwise, bright, dry and windy..

Holt House tea rooms, Bromsgrove

Richard led seven riders to the Holt House tea rooms in Bromsgrove..

Lucky with the weather. No rain despite threatening clouds.

New venue. Very welcoming.

The route is here.

Costa Coffee, city centre

A cold and cloudy morning and only four of us out, so we opted for a leisurely short ride to the city centre.

The route is here.

Bartley Sailing Club

 11 out on a cold and windy morning. John led ride via Woodgate Valley to Bartley Reservoir. 

The route is here

Manor House Tea Rooms, Earlswood

Richard led a group of ten to Manor House Tea Rooms at Earlswood.   

A cool cloudy day, and a heavy shower on the way home.  

The route is here.

Morso café, Droitwich

A unseasonally cold and cloudy morning for a ride to Droitwich.  We could tell by the large puddles that there had been recent heavy rain on the way home, which we were lucky to avoid.

Seven riders.

The route is here.

Sarehole Mill and Lizzie's Farm

Two rides on a cool breezy morning.

1.  Steven guided seven to Sarehole Mill, travelling the length of the Shire Country Park from Ackers Adventure (Small Heath) to Billesley Common.

The route is here. 

2.  John led a group of nine to Lizzie's Farm at Lydiate Ash.

The route is here.

Warley Woods

A cool cloudy breezy morning for a ride to Warley Woods.

Eight riders.

The route is here.

Morso café, Alvechurch

John led a group of six to Morso café in Alvechurch. 

A cool cloudy morning.

The route is here.

City centre

Steven led nine riders, through the estate built on the Selly Oak Hospital grounds and along the towpath to a coffee-stop at Brindley Place, between Costa and Caffé Nero.  Carol and Dave took advantage of the available tables to play some ping-pong.  Return was by way of the reservoir and Harborne Walkway.

The route is here.

Separately, three riders did a short trip to Cannon Hill park via the usual towpath and Rea Valley route.

Desco Lounge, Shirley

A fine morning for Steve's ride to the Desco Lounge in Shirley, mostly via towpaths and parks, with extensive displays of cow parsley to rival recent views of bluebells.  The route included a recently resurfaced section of the towpath beyond the Drawbridge

Nine riders.

The route is here.

Feckenham

Four riders this morning led by Richard T to the community café in Feckenham, returning via Studley and Arrow Valley.  

A damp start, but brighter and warmer later, and no serious rain.

The route is here.

Aston Hall and Lizzie's Farm

Steven led eleven riders to Aston Hall via an intricate route which took in blue routes, the city centre, towpaths and the scenic area under Spaghetti Junction.  A lovely sunny day.

The route is here.

Richard led a group of five to Lizzie's Farm, on a slightly different route from usual.  As he says "it was very pleasant to have coffee in warm sunshine as opposed to our last visit where we were shivering".

The route is here.

Rained off

Two hopefuls turned up at Rowheath in the rain, on the off chance that it would clear up.  It didn't. 

Packwood House

Only three riders this morning for a pleasant breezy outing to Packwood House.

The route is here.

Waseley Hills

Nineteen riders in two groups, led by John and Carole, by different routes.

A bright and breezy morning.

John's route (nine riders) is here.

Carole's route (ten riders) is here.

Alvechurch

Richard led eight riders on a mild but rather damp morning to Alvechurch.

The route is here.

Mappleborough Green

A cool cloudy morning for a ride to the garden centre at Mappleborough Green.  

Five riders.

The route is here.

Bluebell ride and a ride to Bartley Green

John led a longer hilly ride to see the bluebells in Great Farley woods, with a coffee break at Rowberry's garden centre in Chaddesley Corbett.  

A bright sunny day, with lovely views of blossom, bluebells and rolling countryside.

Six riders.

The route is here.

For the regular 10.00 ride, Nick led a group of eleven to the café at Bartley Green reservoir.

The route is here.

Umberslade Farm Park

Richard led a group of seven to Umberslade Farm Park on a cold but dry morning.  Met up with Nick and seven riders from his Solihull group just before reaching Umberslade. 

The route is here.

Costa Coffee, Henley-in-Arden

John led a group of seven to Costa Coffee in Henley-in-Arden.  

A bright sunny morning with a cold wind.

The route is here.

Costa Coffee, city centre

Twenty-one riders in two groups to Costa Coffee in the city centre, returning all together along the towpath.

Cold, cloudy and windy.

The route is here.

Jewellery Quarter

Richard led a group of eight on an enjoyable ride to the Jewellery Quarter.  The outward route took in the university, Edgbaston reservoir and the Soho loop.  On the return we negotiated the uphill path alongside the locks on the Fazeley canal and the city centre before joining the Rea Valley route.

The route is here.

Morso café, Droitwich

John led a bank holiday longer ride to Morso café in Droitwich.  

A fine sunny morning with a cool breeze.  

Nine riders.

The route is here.

Sarehole Mill

Richard led a warm and sunny Easter Saturday ride to Sarehole Mill.

Fourteen riders

The route is here.

Beckett's Farm

A drizzly start, brighter and dry later.  Richard led eight riders to Beckett's Farm, where we were shocked to discover that the price of a cup of coffee has risen from £2.95 to £3.25 since our last visit. 

The route is here.

Arrow Valley

John led six riders to Arrow Valley.  The return route took into account that some riders who are happy to go down Wast Hills Lane are distinctly less enthusiastic when it comes to going up.

A cold start, brighter and warmer later, with a stiff breeze.

The route is here.

Lizzie's Farm, Lydiate Ash

Sixteen riders split into two groups for a ride to Lizzie's Farm at Lydiate Ash.  The groups took slightly different routes on the way out, then stayed together for the return trip.

Bright and mainly sunny but with a very cold wind.

The route of the first group is here.

Earlswood garden centre

John led four riders to Earlswood garden centre, with an extra loop - and a few more hills - on the way out.  Milder than last week, overcast and breezy.

The route is here.

Costa Coffee, city centre

Another cold ride.  John led a goup of ten to Costa Coffee in the city centre.

The route is here.

Two Mugs café, Shirley

Richard led six riders on a very cold ride to the Two Mugs café in Shirley.  An unwelcome contrast to the warm sunshine of last week.

The route is here.

Clent garden centre

Quite chilly at the start but a warm and pleasant ride when the sun appeared.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Alvechurch

 13 out on warm sunny day with little wind. Split between the two cafes in Alvechurch which worked well and service was good. Track below Bittell Reservoir was still a bit muddy. Guy had a puncture on the canal. the route is here

Manor tea rooms, Earlswood

Richard describes Wednesday's ride as a "pleasant change to our previous rides when 4 riders set out in glorious sunshine to the Manor Tearooms at Earlswood.

Nice to be able to sit out and enjoy the coffee break whilst basking in the Spring sunshine"

The route is here.

Waseley Hills

A ride to Waseley, where the café has now reopened after a lengthy closure, although at the moment only for sitting outside.  

A chilly overcast morning.  

Eight riders.

The route is here.

Warley Woods

A beautiful sunny day with a stiff breeze.  Thirteen riders set off for Warley Woods, of whom two took the Harborne Walkway route by mistake, arrived late at the café and took the Woodgate Valley route home.

The route taken by the Breakaway Two is here.

The route of the main group is here

Full English café, Quinton

A different route, and a new café, in the general direction of Halesowen.  A dry start, soon followed by a steady drizzling rain, so we chose the shortest way home.

Eight riders.

The route is here.

Arrow Valley

A beautiful morning, with blue sky, bright sunshine, and early blossom in the hedges, for a ride to Arrow Valley.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Maypole

Two rides, both to Sainsbury's at Maypole, by different routes:  

- a group of seven, led by John, route here

- a group of ten, led by Richard, route here

A dry breezy morning.

The café at Sainsbury's will close permanently on 22nd April 2022.

Aston Hall

Steven took eight on an exploratory urban route to the café at Aston Hall. The route out featured the A34 blue route through Newtown. The longer return skirted Aston reservoir, then onto the canals under Spaghetti Junction.

The route is here.

Packwood House

A cold ride to Packwood House, with no sign in the morning of the bright sunshine which appeared in the afternoon.  

Seven riders.  The route is here.

Two rides: Edgbaston reservoir and the Potting Shed, Lydiate Ash

Steven took eight riders to the reservoir café, going and returning by newish routes across Edgbaston.  The group met the Edgbaston Reservoir beginners' group, who had completed five laps of the reservoir for their ride.

The route is here.

John led a group of six to the Potting Shed at Lydiate Ash via Fairfield and Catshill.

The route is here. 

An overcast morning with a cold wind.

Costa Coffee, city centre

Richard led five riders to Costa Coffee in the city centre.  A murky morning of low cloud and steady drizzle.

The route is here.

Mappleborough Green

A mild breezy morning for a ride to Studley garden centre at Mappleborough Green.

Eight riders.

The route is here,

Two rides: Beckett's Farm and the Desco Lounge, Shirley

A bright, breezy, chilly morning

John led seven to Beckett's Farm via the Stratford canal, route here.

Steven led eight to the Desco Lounge in Shirley, which is a new Saturday destination, with a route out that took in Billesley Common, Trittiford Mill Lake, and Shirley Park.

The route is here.

A bright, breezy, chilly morning.

Morso Barnt Green

 Nine out on cool windy morning with bit of rain. Very slow in the cafe. Back via new East Works estate at Longbridge.  The route is here

M&S Longbridge

 On a very wet & cold morning 10 met up some went home and others left on route to M&S Longbridge where 5 made it for coffee. even wetter on return.  The route is here

The Potting Shed

Seven riders rode to the Potting Shed at Lydiate Ash. Not as windy as we first thought but still challenging.

Thanks must go to a Bromsgrove District road maintenance worker who carried our bikes around the road works on Swan Lane to save us a long detour.

The route is here.

Earlswood garden centre

The weather turned out better than the forecast.  Rain when we set off, a shower as we arrived home, and a lot of puddles, but otherwise dry.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Two rides: Sainsbury's Maypole and Cannon Hill Park

A dry morning with a very strong cold wind.  

John led a group of nine to Sainsbury's at the Maypole - route here.  

Steven led a group of seven to the Midlands Art Centre in Cannon Hill Park, going via Northfield, and returning by way of Calthorpe Park and the blue route.

The route is here.

Kanteen at the Custard Factory

A roundabout ride to Kanteen at the Custard Factory.  Steve, who led the group of eight, conceded that the route was among his more convoluted, with multiple cut-throughs and hidden alleyways via parks and residential areas.  Good thing we had a confident and knowledgeable leader, because the rest of us had no idea where we were.

A mild early spring day.

The route is here.

Clent garden centre

John led a group of six to Clent garden centre, via quite a challenging route, as it's impossible to avoid hills in that direction, both on the way out and on the way back.  On the return we took the track through the farm towards Waseley, which seems slightly easier than Dayhouse Bank.

The route is here.

Two rides: The Exchange, Broad Street and Costa Coffee

A cloudy day with a cold wind.  

Six riders went with John to the Exchange in Broad Street via the canal, returning via the Harborne walkway - route here.  

Steven's group also went to the city centre.  He led ten riders to the Costa Coffee alongside the Birmingham Canal, out along the Harborne Walkway, fully around the reservoir, with the return by towpath.  Approaching their stop, a short section of the towpath was closed for work, with a diversion via ramps on-and-off a pontoon, thus it may have been the first time a group-ride involved cycling on a boat!

The route is here.

Highbury Hall

Five riders on a dry but dull morning had a pleasant morning coffee in the grounds of the large and elegant house of Joseph Chamberlain, where there is a recently-opened café.  The route continued through the Hall's grounds on to Kings Heath park.

Thanks to Phil for showing the way to the park from Highbury Hall.

The route is here.

Arrow Valley

A damp and chilly start, bright and breezy later, for a ride to the café at Arrow Valley.  

Six riders.

The route is here.

Two rides: Morso café, Alvechurch and Bartley Green reservoir

A mild, clear, very windy day, with some gusts nearly strong enough to knock us off our bikes.

John led a group of ten to Morso café in Alvechurch (route here) and Steven led eight to Bartley Green Sailing Club by way of Woodgate Valley (route here).

Shirley, Earlswood, Becketts Farm

Three riders had a delayed start for their ride to a new destination, the Desco Lounge in Shirley, after dealing with a puncture at Rowheath.  Two others went to the café at the craft centre in Earlswood and one to Becketts Farm.  

Cold, bright, sunny.

The routes to Shirley and Earlswood are here and here.

Olde Pounde café, Liveridge Hill

A bitterly cold morning for a ride to the Olde Pounde café at Liveridge Hill, near Henley-in-Arden.

Five riders.

The route is here.

Two rides today

A very cold cloudy day, but no ice, so reasonable for riding.  

Seventeen riders, in two groups:

Steven took ten to Kings Heath Park, via Billesley Common (route here) and John led a group of seven to Warley Woods (route here).

Becketts Farm

A prolonged heavy shower on the way out, dry with a blustery wind on the return. 

Eight riders.

The route is here.

Feckenham community café

Cold start, then frost and ice mostly seen off by bright sun and cloudless blue sky.   

Six riders.

The route is here.

Exchange, Broad Street

Five out on a very cold frosty morning for a repeat of a winter's ride along the Canal to the City centre to avoid icy conditions.  Saw lots of bird twitchers at Edgbaston Reservoir awaiting the return of a rare Icelandic Gull!!! 

The route is here.

The Potting Shed, Lydiate Ash

The forecast, which turned out to be all too accurate, was for rain, so a shorter than usual Monday ride to the Potting Shed at Lydiate Ash.  Rain stopped as we left the café, so a drier ride home.

Seven riders.

The route is here.

M and S, Longbridge

Six riders turned out in heavy rain and gusty winds for a short ride to M and S in Longbridge.  

The route is here.

Arrow Valley

After being caught in a heavy downpour soon after setting off, we made an unscheduled coffee stop at M and S in Longbridge while the weather improved.  We were lucky that the rain stopped and the sky cleared for a ride to Arrow Valley, where the indoor café was open for our second break.

Seven riders.

The route is here. 

Sainsbury's, Maypole

Seventeen riders, divided into two groups, to Sainsbury's at Maypole.  A heavy shower as we set off, and puddles and mud on the paths.

The route taken by John's group is here.

Steven led eight on a tour of the paths of Hawkesley, with Richard navigating the country lanes, returning by way of the Stratford-upon-Avon canal.

The route is here