Latest issue-Lickey Hills

Really good article in the latest mag about good local trail riding- cant believe I live in nearby Belbroughton and have never explored the Lickey’s. Think the article sums up what riding round Birmingham is all about- enjoying and making the most of what we’ve got!

The Lickys are best ride that I can get to straight form the house. Love it up there.

Even though its pretty close from me , i hardly get up there 🙁 … must try and change that !
What mags the article in ?
was thinking of wyre forest sunday but may do the lickeys instead 🙂

The latest singletrack-issue 82 I think

just back from an evening blast up there, followed by a pint 🙂

Great work RD, good to see some real life/everyday riding in there. Quite strange to see my house in the middle of the map!

Hopefully see you up on the hills sometime. I’m sure I saw you and some chaps cresting Rednal hill a couple of months back…

David

Only have online access to the mag so can only see the contents at the moment?

Often walked the dog up there but never ridden…even though I know many people do.

Does the article have a route or anything?

there’ll be a downloadable gpx route when the mag gets put in the archive i think

Cheers Rocketdog

Just downloaded the GPX. Very timely as I was thinking of making a trip out tomorrow and didn’t want to drive too far. Is there much in the way of steep climbing or is it steady middle ring stuff? Middle ring climbs I can generally manage on the uni (it’s a big wheel as recommended 😉 ), granny ring climbs have me walking.

pic from tonight’s ride

Is there much in the way of steep climbing or is it steady middle ring stuff?

1 x 10 here, 32-12:36 gets you up anything

I’ll struggle on something you need 32-36 for (realistically a 32-32 climb is pretty tough), but that sounds reasonable. I don’t mind walking a bit, would just prefer to ride most of it. Thanks.

Wouldnt mind a copy of the GPX if anyone wants to share it 😀

Was a good read. I used to ride the Lickey Hills regularly when I lived closer to Brum. Often rode from Clent via Waseley.
Think I may have to take a trip back over for old time’s sake, as the article has re-kindled my interest somewhat.
Nice one Rocketdog. 🙂

Got the personal tour last night (cheers RD & Dan) – it is amazing what you can find practically on your doorstep and with a bit of local knowledge.

Having a pub with decent ale at the end makes it all the sweeter – morris dancers included!

Cities like Sheffield and Edinburgh are known for having accessible riding, but I reckon Brum does alright too – there’s definitely a few golden nuggets in them hills

I think the availability of local riding in Brum is ace.
When I lived in Bearwood I’d be able to blast along the canal to sandwell Vally or pop up to Sutton Park, Clent & the Lickeys a ride away, Fn urban stuff in the centre and of course cannock and further afeild easy to get to by train.
When I moved to just outside Portsmouth I thought the riding woul;d be much better, what with being on the South Downs. I think that the riding I have to drive to is as good as the stuff I had to drive/train to but the ‘on my doorstep’ stuff is rubbish in comparison.

None of these contain anything cheeky but if you follow your nose then there are plenty of “detours”. Some of these routes are better than others, the last 2 are probably the best. When you don’t drive and ride locally a lot variety is required. 🙂

http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/mountain-biking/alvechurch-loop-1/
http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/mountain-biking/alvechurch-loop-extended-1/
http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/mountain-biking/alvechurch-loop-extended-2/
http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/mountain-biking/barnt-green-to-clent-loop/
http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/mountain-biking/hagley-to-barnt-green/

Here are some more routes in the midlands-ish generally.
http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/mountain-biking/routes/

Bravo! I was looking forward to this since seeing RD’s write up on his Blog. Funny seeing your local trails in the mag, and they are riding great currently as is I suspect, most of the UK. A stark contrast to most of last year where the road bike got considerably more use…

We often link up Lickeys/Waseley/Clent into a 30+ miler from out our door in Redditch. It may not be the Lakes (which we’re looking forward to later this month), but it’s still a good test of the legs!

Are the rangers still really on-top about riding off-piste? They used to be pretty active, especially on the steep slopes of Cofton Hill when I used to ride there in the 90s.

Please note,
Now you can all find stuff to ride nearer to Brum, Cannock Chase is now off-limits to anyone who lives South of Bloxwich.

Franki, you’ve just got to choose your times well, sunny sunday afternoons will find it full of families and pets, go after 6pm on the same day & u’ll be virtually alone. Week days and after work are best but even then its inly really busy around the visitor centre. Just keep to the bridleways 😉

Cheers dood! 😉

Oh here’s another one.

http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/mountain-biking/routes/barnt-green-to-kinver-out-back/

Good stuff.

I’ve only ever been there with the other half walking and keep meaning to get over there with the bike. Will need to sort out an evening ride sometime.

Rocketdog; some of your photos are ace.

Cheers! Not in Benji’s league though

another pic from last night’s ride, not quite as inspiring!

just wondering about this Lickey Hills route, is it all wooded, sheep free route? Or does it mix in with bridleways along the fields etc. Cheers

sheep are all behind fences, you may encounter muntjac deer in the woods though, it’s more open grassland over Waseley Hill and you will find cattle grazing in that area until Sept/Oct

Rocketdog, are your action pics taken with a GoPro? They look awesome.I took some pretty cool ones over Clent tonight with my Hero 3 mounted on the seatpost but some are way out of focus. Any tips on settings?

yea, that one up there is an original GoPro, settings? other than one pic every 10 secs it’s as it comes, the speed blur is caused by low light though, just an accident really!

Ah ok cool thanks. Think I was on 1 per 5 secs and got some pretty cool ones. Better when someone is following you like in yours though!

Bit OT but in the West Mids! messing around with the GoPro at Clent tonight. Trails are running sweet
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G0030067[/url] by luke.greenwood[/url], on Flickr

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G0030067[/url] by luke.greenwood[/url], on Flickr

my bad double post

Anyone fancy a burn next Wednesday evening? Meet at Barnt Green station for say 6pm or the closest that a train gets in at? Or another time if it suits better? 8)

EDIT: Just remembered I have a funeral to go to Wednesday, how about the Wednesday after???

scruff – Member
Please note,
Now you can all find stuff to ride nearer to Brum, Cannock Chase is now off-limits to anyone who lives South of Bloxwich.

Ha,we don’t need the tourist Chase now,we got Sandwell Valley 😆

Anyone fancy a burn next Wednesday evening? Meet at Barnt Green station for say 6pm or the closest that a train gets in at? Or another time if it suits better?

I’d be up for it one evening. Despite being only 20 minutes or so away, I’ve still never ridden the Lickeys! 😕

how about the Wednesday after???

Yep, remind me on Twitter @_rocketdog_