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Hi all, got back into the MTB late last year and really been enjoying the local stuff I can get to from home, however I'm getting to a point where I feel I have exhausted what's on offer locally, and frankly I'm bored of riding alone. Once lockdown has eased and things start to return to "normal", I'm looking to find a group to explore/ride/dick about in the woods with in or around the Bromsgrove/Redditch/South Birmingham area. I've no problem getting caked in filth, always up for a beer and a good chuckle. Not too serious about setting records etc as i wouldnt say I was a pinnacle of fitness lol. Any help would be appreciated guys! Thanks in advance
You are not to far away from Forest Of Dean great place to ride.
Was thinking more along the lines of places I can ride to from home (basecamp is Bromsgrove),although I did go FOD a couple of times before lockdown and enjoyed it
Lickey hills would be a start.
Erm.... Wasley hills depending on where you are. May be a it far.
The wyre forest is a short car journey.
There used to be a proper BMX track in Stoke prior to mess about on bit that went years ago.
Edit: Hanbury woods is ok but it's a long way for not a lot of excitement.
There is a Wyre Forest facebook group
Used to be a few riders from Bromsgrove in the Clent Duffers; we used to ride Wyre, Clent and Lickeys midweek evenings. Plenty to explore but local knowledge helps a lot. Dont know if any of them still go out. Votchy and Mic Arms were on here.
I'm over in Solihull but its all canals here.
Do the lickeys quite regularly, same with the canals. Clent a few times. Maybe it's the lack of company holding me back...
I still ride with Mic but we’re mostly Road these days. Wyre forest was always our go to place with some excellent trails but not been there for a while. Local knowledge is pretty useful there though.
Funnily enough, in the covid lockdown I’ve got all my Mtb’s back up and running and did my first run up to the Lickeys for a few years a week ago and really enjoyed it.
I’ve been pootling around the footpaths and parks in Bromsgrove the last few weeks and just enjoying mountainbiking again.
Will do the canal ride down to Worcester again at some stage soon which is a good 40 miler.
Ive been disappearing alot into dodford lately and just taking any path, trail or bridleway I can find at the moment and seeing where it goes. Did the big catshill through lickey and burcot upto tardebigge and down the canal to worcester and back through droitwich and timberhonger lane to bromsgrove. Was a shock to my system!
You need Rocketdog's help for local canals and byways, and perhaps showing round up to the Lickey's...
If you fancy venturing to the Wyre Forest, give me a shout. I've tried dragging Mic Arms out on his MTB countless times now, and I've given up hope! He's a confirmed roadie (I guess I'm partly to blame for selling him a decent road bike in the first place!) these days... That said, the Wyre is constantly evolving, I'm showing round a couple of people next weekend who used to ride it regularly 6-8 years ago, but the trail network has evolved considerably!
FoD is ace for proper rides, if you know where you're going... Also there's Mortimer Forest a bit further away too. Though both are a decent drive away away. Right now though, at least whilst it's summer, there's more than enough in the Wyre to keep the interest going for a while.
I'll bear that in mind mboy, cheers! Have walked the wyre forest plenty with the mrs and kids but not ridden it yet. It's hard to believe in my teens a group of us used to ride from bromsgrove to worcester and back on Bmx's and ride the skate parks all day inbetween. Oh how I've let myself down🤣🙈
You need Rocketdog’s help
I wouldn't wish that on anyone 😳
Currently working odd shifts for the NHS, there's some sort of virus thing going on, dunno if you're heard 😉 so weekends are patchy and myself and the north Worcestershire Alps CC guys are just going out when we can rather than a regular times.
I had big plans to lead rides with www.ukgravelco.com too via two LBS's as there's a good gravel bike scene locally but C19 has put a spanner in group rides.
So post Covid (not that we'll ever be "post" as now it's out it'll always be with us) I'm more than happy to share trails with anyone. Dicking about in the woods, cafe, coffee & beer stops are our specialty & I know my way around all the good stuff in the Wyre Forest too
We are all odd and over 40 though so if you are a young puppy you might not wish to be seen dead with old guys like us
Early 30's but I feel over 40 these days if it helps?😉
I only have the one bike which is serving as my "it will do for everything" bike, being a plus tyre hardtail.
I did um and ah about buying a gravel or maybe a hybrid but with possible redundancy on the horizon I'm happy with what I have.
Has the NW ALPS group have a separate forum? I'm massively out of touch with social media and deleted facebook after getting bored with various gym selfies, food photos and damn cats.
Would be very interested in joining a local club and getting to know some new faces and places!
Mboy, Mic got his mtb back a week ago (had given it to a mate for months) so he may well be up for a bimble around the Wyre. He got it all running again last week so should be good to go.
I bet it’s totally different from when we used to ride it religiously on a Wednesday night.
Dan, i’ve Got July 1st to 12th as holiday soon so weather willing be be heading out somewhere from Bromsgrove if you’re around. Definitely gonna do the Worcester ride. Canal out to Stratford is a good ride too but it’s a 60+ miler which would be a struggle for me at the moment!
I'm always up for an adventure out of town or into the surrounding greenery. I'm confident I would also struggle with a Stratford round trip (worcester and back near killed me)🤣
Did you come back from worcs on the droitwich canal? It's much better than just retracing your way up the brum-worcs
Droitwich canal is pretty good since they gave it an upgrade.
I got all the canal maps a few years back and have done most of the canals within a 20 mile radius of Birmingham. It’s an interesting way to view the city from different perspectives. Plus it’s a nice way to get some decent car free miles in.
I still ride with Mic but we’re mostly Road these days
Does Mic still take newbs out and try and murder/bum them when they are totaly lost in the woods?
Must be a bit more difficult on a road bike.
*Waves to Mic.*
Mic hasn’t changed. Just means on a road ride he’s able to murder and bum further away from home so it’s easier to dispose of the bodies.
I remember the day Mic came round & had a handjob from me in my garage.
Great frames those Cove bikes
Hi MrTall - Talk of Wed night rides takes me back. Has Mic still got that Inbred with the bespoke 'tiger' paint scheme? Do you keep in touch with Votchy and Sarah at all?
I'd be up for the Wyre Mboy if you wanted to show us around. Not been for a few years. Surprising how time goes by.
Hi Stu - that Canfield frame I had from you is going well - son is on it pretty much every day, been building jumps with his mates, so its had a good life
Was a mix of roads, parks and tracks then picked up timberhonger all the way back to bromsgrove
Glad to hear the Yelli is still in use and that Mic hasn't changed his ways.😁
OP
I could show you round Clent/Kinver but when all this shit is over with I'll be living in Scotland so it'll be a bit far for me to come back.
See, this is why you probably shouldn't come out with us. Today trying new to us bridleways that traverse recently tilled fields makes your wheels stop going round.
We did find a take away beer to cheer us up though
That looks like the Mountain Mayhem mud that stops everything in its track!
DJ, yep Mick still has the tiger based on one. 26” gnarl machine.
Haha that's brilliant rocket!😆