Cycling Road Trip for Longbridge with Cycle South Brum

Saturday 17  May 2014, 11am – 4pm approximately, free
A Road Trip for Longbridge starts and finishes with the regeneration works on Longbridge Lane but in between goes on a journey to a variety of locations in Hollymoor, Frankley, Rubery and Rednal that pose questions about ideas – and ideals – about the places we want to live in.
Part guided tour and part guided conversation, it is an invitation for you to share your stories about your experiences of community and the changes in the area.
Where/when does it start and finish?
The tour starts and finishes at Austin Park – behind the new Bournville College building on Longbridge Lane. Go into the shared space area as if you were going to Sainsbury’s, then turn right in front of the hotel and pub. We’ll be the ones with the bikes near the bridge!
Please make sure you’re ready for a prompt 11am start. There are loos in the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket if you need them beforehand.
There will also be a feeder ride for people who would prefer to meet at Northfield Ecocentre (53 Church Road, Northfield, B31 2LB). This group will leave at 10:30, so please make sure you are there and ready to depart by then.
Is it far? Is it fast? Will I be able to keep up?
The route is about 10 miles long in total, but there are several stopping points, so you’ll not need to cycle more than a few miles at a time.
We’ll go at the pace of the slowest rider, waiting for everyone to catch up after uphill sections etc. We’ll also have a ‘Tail End Charlie’ whose job it will be to stay at the back of the group and make sure no-one gets left behind.
If you find you need to walk up a hill, that’s totally fine.
Will we be cycling on busy roads?
Yes. Although some of our route is on off-road cycle paths and National Cycle Route 5, the majority of the tour will be along roads – sometimes busy ones.
Because of this the tour is not suitable for children or for very novice riders. You don’t have to be a pro road racer with all the kit, but we do request that everyone taking part should be comfortable cycling on the road in amongst other traffic.
Will we stop for lunch? Do I need to bring anything with me?
There’ll be a lunch and toilet break at the Morrisons supermarket at Great Park. Here you can either buy yourself something at the café or in the main store – please bring a lock so you can leave your bike outside and some money.
It would also be wise to bring some water to drink as we’re cycling around and of course clothing etc suitable to the weather (waterproof layers or sun protection, depending on which way it goes!).
Can I borrow a bike?
We have a few cycles available for hire. You will need to arrange this in advance.
Will the tour still take place if it’s raining?
Yes …up to a point. If it’s drizzly we’ll still ride. If the weather’s shockingly bad we’ve pencilled in the next Saturday (24th of May) as a Plan B. Cancellation notices will be sent out.
Click Here to book your place
To contact Cycle South Brum for more information Click Here

Posted on 25th April 2014