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.