Earlswood garden centre

A warm and sunny bank holiday Monday, and a lovely ride for a group of eight to Earlswood garden centre.

The route is here.

Two rides today

(i)  Rowberry's garden centre, Chaddesley Corbett

John led a longer ride to see the bluebells in Great Farley woods.  We had been warned that there would be hills, which there were, with some nice long downhills as a reward for the hard work getting up them.  The most challenging climb, and also the most scenic, was Winwood Heath Road, with masses of bluebells in the woods on either side.  Although being surrounded by lovely countryside doesn't make it any easier to get up the hill, everyone did very well.    

A beautiful day and a very enjoyable outing for the eleven riders who turned out.

The route is here.

(ii)  Warley Woods

Steve led 14 riders on the regular ride, a fairly hilly route to Warley Woods.  He reports:

The café was very busy, with a long wait for service, with many of us sitting on the grass.  It was a lot hotter than many had planned for.

The route is here.

Two Mugs Café, Shirley

Richard reports:

Although a little milder, the windy conditions made the going tough.  

Five riders on a ride that took in six parks, including Rowheath, Cotteridge, Daisy Farm, Shirley,Trittiford/Chinn Brook and Highbury, as well as the Stratford Canal and Rea Valley route. 

The Two Cups Café were most obliging and even reserved a table for us.

The route is here.

Beckett's Farm, Hollywood

Richard reports that everyone kept up well on a sometimes challenging ride which was a little longer than the normal Saturday ride.  

They were lucky to get seats in a very busy Beckett's Farm.

Seventeen riders.

The route is here.

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Costa Coffee, city centre

An enjoyable ride to the city centre via Bournville, the university, Chad Valley, Edgbaston reservoir and the Soho loop.  On the return Richard led us through the city centre via NCN route 5 and on to the Rea Valley.

Eight riders. 

The route is here.

Two rides today

(i)  Regular Saturday ride

Richard led six riders via the Stratford canal and Billesley common to the café in Kings Heath Park.  Return via Cannon Hill Park, the dental hospital and a very quiet Selly Oak High Street.  A cold start but warmed up later.

The route is here.

(ii)  Longer ride

Nick led a group of six on a longer ride to Wedge's bakery, near Hockley Heath.  Quite cold, cloudy and breezy, until the sun appeared as we arrived home.

The route is here.

The Potting Shed, Lydiate Ash

A cold start, slightly warmer and pleasantly brighter when the sun came out.  

An enjoyable ride via some new lanes, including Chapman's Hill and the bridge over the motorway, which is an alternative to Dayhouse Bank on the way to Bell Heath.

Six riders.

The route is here.