They can't be any worse than the spiral staircase swingbing had a go at?
Where is this stair case that swingbin had a pop at?
There is this tunnel in between the uni and 5 ways.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3132474
mattk - Member
They can't be any worse than the spiral staircase swingbing had a go at?
No that was a bit daft really wasnt it.
Zoom in on this, its to the left of the pointer. A spiral staircase where the diameter isn't much more than the length of a bike.
That is the tunnel I was referring to as under Leebank middle way. It used to be pain to ride through because there was a "ridge" in the middle that if you slipped off either side your handle either hit the railings or the wall. They resurfaced it maybe a year go and now its fine.
I can't believe swingbin went for that spiral set of stairs! 😆 There is a big long run of steps on the opposite side of Paradise forum that goes down to the subway that pops out by the college of food. Its marked on that map I shared.
No its further down at the Church Road crossing. Have a look at the street view of the staircase you can see the full extent of the madness.
Ahh yeah you're right, it is the one I was thinking of though. 🙂
Just had a look at the weather forecast and stairs are going to be interesting in the wet! I think I might stick on my super tacky swampthings, they should eek out every last bit of grip.
Also looking at the Uni on google earth and there are loads of different types of stairs to ride down. Dont for get your knee pads people 😆
I may me there tomorrow but not 100% sure. However, if anyone wants a super tacky 2.7" dual ply maxxis minion I can do someone a very good deal! 😀
There are indeed a few decent bits of riding around the Uni. Nice little jaunt through the tunnels to get there too, might add another dimension to the ride. Might see if I can find an old narrow set of bars and have another pop at that staircase!
You would probably be better off with a unicycle. No need to hop the back end round then.
Just had a look at the weather forecast and stairs are going to be interesting in the wet! I think I might stick on my super tacky swampthings, they should eek out every last bit of grip.
No matter how wet it is, there will be more grip than there was at the Lickys tonight. Never seen it so sketchy. 😕
I shall be in brum tomo night on a date, I shall look out for you all
It's a bit damp in the shire of four oaks too I slipped over twice walking down the hill in my garden to my shed.
Where will you be Houns we will come and distract you.
There is this tunnel in between the uni and 5 ways.
my 760mm bars clipped the wall through there on sunday, there's a definate bulge in the middle....well that's my excuse
Around Ze Market, but if I get off the train at Moor St ill take a wander through to the Bull to see if you're there (due to get there about 7)
Can we have a roll call for tonights ride.
I_Ache Raw Enduro + Mate Yellow Prophet
swingbing Blue Soul
Composite ?
Matt, Lunge, Rizla, Alex, ndg are any of you going to make it?
Don't forget to bring your cameras guys so composite can make a massive video.
Its a no for me this week I'm afraid. A shame as the tunnels look really interesting.
Can we have a roll call for tonights ride.I_Ache Raw Enduro + Mate Yellow Prophet
swingbing Blue Soul
Composite ?Matt, Lunge, Rizla, Alex, ndg are any of you going to make it?
Don't forget to bring your cameras guys so composite can make a massive video.
I'll be there on a white Five.
My bikes in my LBS having the front axle replaced providing its done I'll be there
Update
I_Ache Raw Enduro
swingbing Blue Soul
Composite White Five
My mate has come down with a case of underthethumbitis so now cant make it.
Might just be the three of us.
Having a bit of lunchtime search for tunnels and this came up
http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/image_galleries/tunnel_vision_fierce_gallery.shtml?5
It's an old Railway tunnel that has been disused for years, and runs from the mailbox to new street station. It'll be securley locked up, but they did open it in 2007 for an art exhibition.
I might try and find out who owns it, and see if they would let us in to ride it.
How awesome would it be to hoon down that at speed?!? it's gotta be a few hundred metres long!
My train from Stourbridge gets in to Moor St at 18:47 so if anyone is on it I'll look out for you
I'll most likely come... My ears are funny with the wind though. That reminds me I got a tube to go and replace.
I know a tunnel that is full of graff... it'd be crap to ride though, the emergency exit form one of teh queensway tunnels.
I used to ride under spaghetti junction a fair bit... fair old jaunt out of town but worth it, maybe one for a summer evening.
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/8158919664_61b123e67b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer/8158919664/ ]Spaghetti Junction[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/dgeezer/ ]diamond geezer[/url], on Flickr[/img]
double post.
passtherizla - Member
I know a tunnel that is full of graff... it'd be crap to ride though, the emergency exit form one of teh queensway tunnels.
Where does it go?
Ive been following this thread for a bit now and hope to join you...probably not today due to an injury I picked up at Cannock on the weekend not to mention the amount of rain on the way!
Stumbled upon this...
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php/14160-Birmingham-University-Tunnels
Did read somewhere about a mining school at the uni and a complex of tunnels built for that purpose!!
Anyways I was under the impression the urban rides were to be monthly...are you going weekly instead?
I used to ride under spaghetti junction a fair bit... fair old jaunt out of town but worth it, maybe one for a summer evening.
The run along the canal to get there is kinda fun. Its like a huge set of rollers. Agree though I wouldn't suggest hanging around that bit after dark, definitely a summer evening jaunt. 🙂
saps - MemberAnyways I was under the impression the urban rides were to be monthly...are you going weekly instead?
I think they will be every 2nd Thursday and then in between when there are people who want to do in between.
I think they are to be monthly, weekly will probably be a bit too much. We are mainly going this week because composite was so upset that he missed last weeks we are trying to make him feel better. The next proper one will be on Thursday 13th December. Every second Thursday of the month.
Although I just realized that it is the work Christmas meal on the 13th. 🙁
😛
I've a mate coming on a glow in the dark 456...provided he doesn't shandy out, what with the weather looking as good as it does.
Do they actually glow in the dark? That would look pretty cool on a video.
ARRGGHH...got me wanting to throw caution to the wind and just come along event though I can barely hold the bars (bent my thumb back, no break but still strapped).
I too have a 456 bright orange...unfortunately not glow in the dark though!
saps - sympathies. Hope you're ready to ride by december 13th.
They glow in the dark, but only if you charge them up with as many lumens at possible first!
Just to say, it's chuffin minging out there
My car was getting blown all over the place on the M42 on the way home. Should make jumping fun.
The wind has won the caution battle...have fun see you at the next outing 🙂
I just rode home in it and the cross winds in cannon hill park were pretty intense... as were the head winds. 👿
It is now pissing down in Balsall Heath! I'm not coming unless it has stopped by 7pm!
I'm also beginning to think its really not worth it. The weather is just getting worse over here, I'll be soaked before I even get on the train. I can't do next week otherwise I would suggest that.
Anyone fancy an actual MTB ride at the chase on tuesday?
I'm crying off tonight, it's absolutley hammering down in boldmere.
Anyone who still wants to ride to night is certifiable! Good luck to you if you do. I'm out!
Tuesday's are no good for me I_Ache 🙁
Yeah fair enough guys. I thought I was through the worst of it earlier. Just looked outside again and it's proper bad in Kings Heath.
The tv has just lost signal as has my phone because the rain is so heavy. So I'm out too. How about two weeks time?
I didn't realise you lived so close matt.
It's coming from my direction and its still hammering down here at Stourbridge station
2 weeks time is the week before the 13th. I might try again next week but it'd be good to get a big group along on the [b]13th December.[/b]
Where does it go?
comes out sort of underneath paradise forum.
I'm oot... pishing down Scottish fashion over here in the chembo.
MattK I used to live in Western road by Boldmere.
nearly got blown into the canal a few times on my commute home, its not pleasant out there.
See you all on the 13th.
I work in boldmere which is great for lunchtime blasts round Sutton park, and right opposite a bike shop too!
I was planning to ride into town tonight down the sustrans route through perrybar, until I saw the weather. But I'll be doing that next time if anyone's interested, it's about 5 miles of flat cycle path through the parks
Swingbin where in Balsall Heath are you, I would be riding in from Kings Heath, could meet on the way in maybe? I would normally take the Rea Valley route through Cannon Hill Park.
Also if you are going to try to ride in town next week I could do Wednesday evening.
Send me an email composite, maybe we can sort out a cheeky ride next week. I'm only a couple of mins from Cannon hill park.
Where is the bike shop in boldmere? I live on pretty much the exact opposite of the park from boldmere.
I_ache - its on boldmere road a couple of doors down from wetherspoons, he generally stocks cheaper bikes but is a sound bloke and always sorts me out.
Found this today
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[img] 
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One to include on the next ride perhaps, not too far from the mailbox.
That's Park Centeal I think, my mates lives close to that. Looks interesting.
Fun!
Ooooh that looks fun.
How did the date go Houns, hope you got more riding in than we did. 😉
Added that and a couple of other things to the map we have already talked about. I might even know a guy who lives round there. If he over looks that part then it could be a good place for a camera. 🙂
Anyone have a link to the map pls 🙂
Email me and I will add you to the list. Email in profile.
how do you drop pins on that map compo?
Do you see a red edit button on the left of the map?
Hit that and then the "pin tool" should appear in the top left corner of the map. Drop your pins then hit "save" and "done".
Im gutted I cant make the next official one. Might have to try and squeeze one in on the 20th.
I really want to hit some of those steps at the uni and even try riding down the steep and narrow stairs to the canal at the uni.
[img] 
[/img] 😀
Oh and I just stuck a couple of locations around the Uni on the map. A few sets of steps that I can remember being steep and some quite long and wide ones. There is loads of stuff to find around there that I have forgotten about. I remember walking around thinking how much fun some of the features would be to ride.
In that photo it doesn't look so bad, but when you are at the top looking down it looks well steep. 😯
As long as my bars fit between the handrails, which it looks like they will, then I'm going down it.
Another one for the summer rides maybe, its just near spaghetti junction.
[img] 
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Jesus I've ridden through that tunnel at dusk without lights.... 😯
Been following this thread for a while... Used to ride around brum a fair bit, there are some great spots to link up. There's a great spot behind the flapper pub, housing estate with steps etc and some fun banks and stuff. Take innertubes galore!
I've thought about riding Spaghetti, I don't have a clue whats down there. And I'm not going on my own to find out! 😥
I've said many times before I used to ride to work under spaghetti junction when i worked in colmore row... there is some dead good stuff...
Damn wrong thread! 😳
THe [b]13th of December[/b] is fast approaching, who's looking forward to it?
last (and 1st) time i rode from Brindley to spaghetti there were holes in the bank at the side of the towpath where people were obviously living 😯
i'd not venture down there without an armed escort after dark (this was about 15 years ago though)
Yes to the 13th, I will be there.
Can't make it I'm afraid. Work Christmas meal that I can't get out of, due to the fact that Mrs_Ache is the one that organised it.
Need to get back to the Christmas market tho, I noticed today that they are selling 50cm sausages! Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to get one.
Im out too... babysitting duties.
So who'll be there?
Swingbin
Lunge
NDG (+1 probably)
Anymore?