Lickey Hills commute

[upsidedown]

Sorry for the Midlands-centric post.......
Thought i'd change my normal route tonight.
Left Redditch heading for Stourbridge, took a wrong turn at Alvechurch, ended up going over the Lickeys, past Longbridge, up Frankly Beeches,into Halesowen and up to Netherton, 27 miles and according to bikehike 1400 feet climb.
Much respect to you south Birmingham commuters for getting through Longbridge and Northfield, it was pretty scary.

I'm bloody knackered and ready for my lasagne.

 

[Will1985]

I had never ridden the A38 at rush hour until today - came back from the city centre down to Selly Oak. The traffic was moving at about 26 mph so it was easy to keep up. The A38 down to Lickey is all pretty good for cyclists apart from those lights around the Northfield "bypass". Agree with User about that Barnt Green run - very nice road....the southbound descent from the top of Rose Lane is pretty good too.

 

[nigelnorris]

Have been that way once or twice on weekend runs, really nice ride when you have the time for it. Buns of steel required for it to be a regular route.

 

[Downward]

Sorry for the Midlands-centric post.......
Thought i'd change my normal route tonight.
Left Redditch heading for Stourbridge, took a wrong turn at Alvechurch, ended up going over the Lickeys, past Longbridge, up Frankly Beeches,into Halesowen and up to Netherton, 27 miles and according to bikehike 1400 feet climb.
Much respect to you south Birmingham commuters for getting through Longbridge and Northfield, it was pretty scary.

I'm bloody knackered and ready for my lasagne.

Just 1400 feet ? Surely it must be more than that. What's the route like from Frankley Beeches to Halesowen ? If and when our work move I will be doing this commute.

Halesowen to Netherton is a nice climb after 2 miles ! What do you commute on ?

 

[Will1985]

Whatever you do, don't ever try to ride up to the top of the Lickeys from the Bromsgrove M42 roundabout. It's never-ending, and is the only time I've ever bonked.

Haha - you're 3 years too late with that advice! I did that in 2006 after a long ride. Without a decent knowledge of where I was going, I first rode about 800m up the A38 (M5/J5) before chickening out and going back to the roundabout, heading southbound and turning towards Marlbrook and up 'that' road. I remember sitting under a tree by the junction with Alvechurch Highway for half an hour munching down food and gels before slowly continuing on.

 

[hackbike 666]

Sorry for the Midlands-centric post.......

It's no problem thanks for your politeness.

 

[upsidedown]

Just 1400 feet ? Surely it must be more than that. What's the route like from Frankley Beeches to Halesowen ? If and when our work move I will be doing this commute.

Halesowen to Netherton is a nice climb after 2 miles ! What do you commute on ?

It did feel like more than 1400 feet. It's quite a climb up to the top of Lickey, then another up from the Tesco Express in Frankley up to the Beeches, great view from up there down to the QE and into town.
Frankley Beeches to Halesowen is a nice ride.

Commute on a Surly Long Haul Trucker, will post some pics later.

 

[Downward]

It did feel like more than 1400 feet. It's quite a climb up to the top of Lickey, then another up from the Tesco Express in Frankley up to the Beeches, great view from up there down to the QE and into town.
Frankley Beeches to Halesowen is a nice ride.

Commute on a Surly Long Haul Trucker, will post some pics later.

It must be - I do Halesowen - Hagley (Aston Martin Garage) turn left to Clent, Upto the top of clent and then down through Romsley back to Halesowen and that was 1009ft total climbing

 

[upsidedown]

What do you commute on ?

Now in photos under "Another LHT", not the lightest or greatest but i love it.

 

[BrumJim]

One of my favourite evening runs is Bristol Rd to the Chalet (or whatever it's called this week) - Barnt Green - Over the canal to the rab just before Alvechurch & then left & back up the hill through Hopwood.

My favourite run is the reverse of this - out along the Pershore Road, through Barnt Green, and back up the Bristol Road. There is an optional detour up Lickey Hills, past Beacon Hill, and down through Rubery, but I have yet to complete this without stopping on the way up to Beacon Hill to get my breath back. Maybe with new bike and better legs?

Runs up through Northfield and Selly Oak give the legs a good work-out.

 

[tomfoolery]

I used to ride out over Egg Hill (isn't it called that) from Northfield to Halesowen via Frankley etc. Loved it and miss it.

Didn't love the really thin dark bit on a blind corner on Illey Lane though - cars come both ways fast and if one met another there'd be no spare space for me on me bike.

 

[Downward]

I used to ride out over Egg Hill (isn't it called that) from Northfield to Halesowen via Frankley etc. Loved it and miss it.

Didn't love the really thin dark bit on a blind corner on Illey Lane though - cars come both ways fast and if one met another there'd be no spare space for me on me bike.

Yeah i will avoid that bit and carry on a bit uptowards quinton and turn off down Lye Lane