Shirley/Solihull.

brum_rich

Anybody know of any good rides around Shirley & Solihull, or even the wider Warwickshire area? I normally ride the canals from Dickens Heath to Lapworth and sometimes pick up some trails off there (usually more by pot luck than plan!)

Also, are there any mountain biking clubs/groups around this area? I can find plenty of cycling clubs in terms of road racing but nothing for off road?!

landranger

Hi,
I'm live in Yardley and do a trip from Lowsonford not far from Hockley Heath. It's a 12mile circuit that takes in canal, road, bridleways and stuff. Very muddy though this time of year.

If you do a search on uk googlemap I traced it out on there. Search for Lowsonford 12ml mtb route.

Don't know of any clubs but Red Kite Cycles in Solihull might know of some if you pop in there.
If you fancy doing the route, let me know and i'll give it a go. Can't do the next two or three weeks though, I'm going away but let me know.

Cheers.

brum_rich

thanks looks like a good ride

eddyesi

Cannock chase is the obvious one http://www.chasetrails.co.uk/chasemaps.php
Sutton park isnt bad either, bit flat though

few bits over leamington way, but nothing as good as the stuff above, Edge Hill and Centenery way, but muddy as hell at the mo

someone did this one earlier too
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14916954

and further afield over our way there is
Wyre and Clent hills (and lickey hills too)
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... 7#15197507
then Malverns

Closest Welsh riding is Llandegla, about 1.5hrs from brum

bobbyfett

I live in sutton and the park is fantastic, if you can spare a bit of time to investigate it then theres some pretty fun trails, theres a hidden dirt jump park off by four oaks too.
we ride there after work and at weekend if we cant be bothered to drive far and we can quite happily kill 4 hours riding different stuff, theres some fast decents, but they only last a couple of minutes at the most, but then you only have a 5 minute ride to the next one. dont get me wrong, its not the lake district, but to have something like sutton park on your doorstep really is a blessing!

eddyesi

Not disagreeing, especially if its on your doorstep its still a great place for riding, but not really all that challenging.Used to ride there a fair bit when i lived in brum, but its just as quick/easy for me to get to the chase for night and w/e rides from mine now, so would always take the chase over sutton park

brum_rich

thanks for the advice. i will check out sutton park and cannock chase over the summer

eddyesi

brum_rich wrote:

thanks for the advice. i will check out sutton park and cannock chase over the summer

Chase was bone dry thursday night, impressed, hopeing we might have some good riding this summer. Chase is the easiest if you dont know where your going, as the Follow the dog trail is signposted. Sutton is best with a guide to point out the good riding