March 3rd – Out at 9am on a wet, drizzly morning for a regular fixture that symbolises the start of spring for me: Erdington Bicycle Jumble. It takes place in a church hall, just near the station in the Birmingham suburb, but I always cycle there via the same route; through the posh estates of Little Aston, straight down Sutton Park and out through Boldmere. Arriving just after 10, wet and bedraggled, the dismal weather is soon forgotten. There’s plenty of junk to rummage though, plenty of old frames to dream ‘what if…?’ over, plenty of memories. The chance to catch up with seldom seen old cycling acquaintances and to have a laugh and a cup of tea with fellow bargain hunters. As one wag pointed out on a local cycling forum, the age of the punters neatly matches the age of the stock. There’s huge cycling experience here. I usually spend less than a fiver. But it’s always money well spent.

Author: BrownhillsBob

I told the truth - but told it bent. Wandering around bemused and ranty since 2007. View all posts by BrownhillsBob