Cycle Rides in West Midlands

[Marc Jennings]

Can anyone recommend any good cycle routes in the West Midlands/Birmingham area suitable for a
beginner (I currently manage 5-10 miles a day). I would ideally like a circular route so can park
the car and ride from and back to it. Would be ok to go off road along tow paths etc. maybe with
some suitable stops for refreshments on the way.

Many thanks

Marc

[BenS]

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 11:06:37 +0000, Marc Jennings
<M.Jennings@ftel.co.uk> wrote:

>Can anyone recommend any good cycle routes in the West Midlands/Birmingham area suitable for a
>beginner (I currently manage 5-10 miles a day). I would ideally like a circular route so can park
>the car and ride from and back to it. Would be ok to go off road along tow paths etc. maybe with
>some suitable stops for refreshments on the way.

There are some well surfaces tracks around Sutton Park that should do the trick. Good car
parking as well.
--
"We take these risks, not to escape from life, but to prevent life escaping from us."
http://www.bensales.com (http://www.bensales.com/)

[Ian G Batten]

In article <403C81BD.7D67ED89@ftel.co.uk>,
Marc Jennings <M.Jennings@ftel.co.uk> wrote:
> Can anyone recommend any good cycle routes in the West Midlands/Birmingham area suitable for a
> beginner (I currently manage 5-10 miles a day). I would ideally like a circular route so can park
> the car and ride from and back to it. Would be ok to go off road along tow paths etc. maybe with
> some suitable stops for refreshments on the way.

Start from Brindley Place. Go down Farmer's Bridge locks to Aston Junction, down Aston locks and out
along the Birmingham and Fazely to Salford Junction, hard left and back in along the Warwick and
Birmingham Junction to Bordesley Junction, right along the Digbeth branch, through Ashtead locks and
tunnel back to Aston Junction, then back up Farmer's Bridge. About five miles.

Currently the towpath of the W&BJ is being resurfaced at one point (or at least it was on Sunday
morning), so you need to peel off onto the roads around Adderley Park for half a mile and drop back
onto the canal. I'm currently in a conference room in Menlo Park, so don't have a Birmingham A-Z to
hand but I could look the roadnames up if you were interested.

ian

[John Mallard]

Marc Jennings wrote:
> Can anyone recommend any good cycle routes in the West Midlands/Birmingham area suitable for a
> beginner (I currently manage 5-10 miles a day). I would ideally like a circular route so can park
> the car and ride from and back to it. Would be ok to go off road along tow paths etc. maybe with
> some suitable stops for refreshments on the way.

Pop into Waterstones. The one by the Rotunda, not the one by New St Station ramp. Ignore the glass
lift at the front of the building. Take the little lift that's a little further in on the right. Go
to the third floor. There is a small bookshelf right next to the lift on the third floor. Lots of
cycling guides there including "Cycle routes around Birmingham". Looks like just the thing you need.

Now then Selway, why couldn't _you_ tell him that? ;-)

--
Cheerful Peddling John Mallard

[Pmailkeey]

On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 22:20:24 -0000, "John Mallard" <not_me@all> wrote:

:)Marc Jennings wrote: )> Can anyone recommend any good cycle routes in the West )>
:Midlands/Birmingham area suitable for a beginner (I currently manage )> 5-10 miles a day). I would
:ideally like a circular route so can park )> the car and ride from and back to it. Would be ok to
:go off road )> along tow paths etc. maybe with some suitable stops for refreshments )> on the way.
:) )Pop into Waterstones. The one by the Rotunda, not the one by New St Station )ramp. Ignore the
:glass lift at the front of the building. Take the little )lift that's a little further in on the
:right. Go to the third floor. There )is a small bookshelf right next to the lift on the third
:floor. Lots of )cycling guides there including "Cycle routes around Birmingham". Looks like )just
:the thing you need. ) )Now then Selway, why couldn't _you_ tell him that? ;-)

Push Bikes (why not join them ?) also have free cycle route guides:

http://www.pushbikes.freeserve.co.uk (http://www.pushbikes.freeserve.co.uk/) --> About Us --> Shop
|
V
freebies

Haynes (car repair manual ppl) have a London Cycle Guide book and their Birmingham version's due
out June-ish.
--
Comm again, Mike.