Grand Union-Solihull to Brum

[trickletreat]

My son recently bought a spec. Allez, now he wants to commute from Solihull to Colmore Row. He has very limited cycling experience on road, let alone rush hour cycling, so I suggested the canal. It would take 5 miles of a 9.5 mile commute, and some of the rest is on residential roads. I rode the route today on my mtb, there and back to his office..approx 50 mins each way, but easier on the way back.

The canal towpath was reasonable, but muddy in places. Don't know if it would be best to give him one of my old mtb's or if some cross tyres would do on his Allez. Does anyone do this route year round, the canal section was from Richmond Road to Bordesley Circus.

 

[BrumJim]

Old MTB for a muddy canal-side commute. Not really much fun on a road bike.
My commute involves canal riding, but I avoid it in the wet winters, and it is mostly brick, tarmac and hard crushed stone.

 

[trickletreat]

Old MTB for a muddy canal-side commute. Not really much fun on a road bike.
My commute involves canal riding, but I avoid it in the wet winters, and it is mostly brick, tarmac and hard crushed stone.

Yes makes sense to me, he can build up on road awareness at weekends on the Allez, and use my old trek for work.

 

[BrumJim]

How old is your son? There is a South Birmingham Social ride on CC & Informal Rides and Events. He could join us for a merry Saturday Morning hill climbing to get used to the roads.

 

[trickletreat]

How old is your son? There is a South Birmingham Social ride on CC & Informal Rides and Events. He could join us for a merry Saturday Morning hill climbing to get used to the roads.

Thanks for this, I will pass it on. He is 25 and pretty much starting from scratch. He doesn't find time to do any exercise owing to long hours etc, but once he has some miles under his belt, I hope he will get the bug.

 

[jimboalee]

Old MTB. Big long front splash flap on the end of full mudguards.

Did you get off and push over the bridges opposite the Ackers?

The line of concrete slabs where the cut travels parallel to the railway at Small Heath NEEDS a BIG lamp in the dark.

 

[trickletreat]

Old MTB. Big long front splash flap on the end of full mudguards.

Did you get off and push over the bridges opposite the Ackers?

The line of concrete slabs where the cut travels parallel to the railway at Small Heath NEEDS a BIG lamp in the dark.

That is a nasty bridge with all the ridges, I cheated and stood on the pedals and used the motor

Its a bit unnerving listening to the small concrete slabs rattling as well