March 6th – Back in Darlaston today. Riding up the hill from Walsall town centre, I noticed the Old Clinic in Bradford Street. Clearly vacant, it seems to be doing nothing except acting as parking-clamper bait. I know nothing of this building, or its history. But it is rather handsome. I love the leaded lights. Wonder who owns it? Let us hope that Walsall’s Municipal Arsonists haven’t spotted this one yet…
March 5th – I returned early for a change, but absent mindedly got on the wrong train at New Street. I had intended to catch a Walsall service, and come home with the wind more of less behind me, but stuck on autopilot I got on a Lichfield train instead, hopping off at Blake Street. Battling an evil headwind all the way back, it was otherwise a lovely afternoon, with bright blue skies, fluffy white clouds and a certain emerald hue coming into the countryside around Stonnall. I noticed clumps of early daffodils, particularly along Mill Lane near Ivy House Farm, and the views were clear and lovely. Spring, I’m ready for you now.
March 5th – I had to nip to Telford, and visit two different places, one of which was on Stafford Park. I don’t often go there, but the one memorable thing about the place is a very peculiar feature. This huge industrial estate is one of several around the town, whose streets bear only numbers. Just off the romantically named Stafford Park 6 stands this peculiar edifice – the base of Enta Networks, a computer component import company. It certainly makes a change from the endless sea of flat metal warehouses that populate here, Hortonwood and Halesfield, but there’s something awfully tasteless about it too. An odd thing.
March 4th – Somebody switched off spring. It had rained all morning, and as I slunk out of the house for a spin before tea, it was cold, windy and an eternity away from the sunny afternoon of the day before. I cycled towards Chasewater, but wasn’t dressed for the cold conditions I was experiencing, and headed back to Brownhills. I ended up looping through Clayhanger and took in yet another sunset – this time from Clayhanger Bridge. Hope the spring returns soon…
March 4th – I noticed whilst passing Ogley Junction the dredger which had sunk in Chasewater Basin the week before had been hauled out of the water and placed on blocks. All was clearly not well with it. The odd thing is that behind it, with the yellow arm, is a virtually brand new dredger that’s been stationed there for at least two years, without ever seeming to get used. That’s a valuable piece of equipment to be left doing nothing…
March 3rd – The traditional thing after the bike jumble is to have breakfast at a local cafe, and then drop onto the canals under spaghetti junction, to explore Brum. Today, the sun had come out, and I started by exploring Erdington, a place I’ve always loved. In this one suburb there is a huge amount of splendid architecture, and the streets are peopled by a diverse mix of people of a whole range of races. Still villagey, Erdington has a fantastic atmosphere. Later, I hit the canal to the Jewellery Quarter and central Birmingham. The day was gorgeous and, after the drizzle of the morning, spring was back. Man, I love this place.
March 3rd – Other people’s bicycles. One of the interesting things about the cycle jumble is that it’s a meeting of the old tribes. Tourers, utility cyclists and the fixie wonks. It’s nice to note that the majority of the that crowd these days are young kids – probably students. I watched a tragically hip group park their battered, well-loved steeds in a pile and drift into the hall. The young lady of the group rode what must be a hand-me-down; beautiful 70’s bright red city bike with original Pifco chrome back light, and a giant Miller front. Now, that’s authentic. My favourite is the rusty, battered fixie in the last couple of images. A girl exuding more style than it was reasonable to expect on such a morning rolled up on it, parked and hopped in. A flip-flop hub, she was riding it on the fixed side. Class.
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.
March 2nd – The old Central Boys School at Brownhills, just at the central island, known to my generation as ‘The Annexe’ is no longer a school and is now called Brownhills Activity Centre – a sort of community centre on steroids. There are all kinds of clubs and classes going on here, from adult education, to a motorcycle club and youth groups. Even at 6:15pm on a Friday, the place is buzzing. It wasn’t until I stopped to take these pictures that I realised how gorgeous the building actually is, and how wonderful it looks at night. Never really noticed before.
March 2nd – Escaping a heavy afternoon of bicycle fettling, I skipped out on a new transmission at dusk. Enjoying the freedom, I headed up over Wyrley Common for a bit, out beyond the old level crossing at the top of Engine Lane. Heading back towards the factories at dusk, I jumped half out of my skin at the surprise of being greeted from the shadows of the scrub by a ne’er do well in a grubby anorak with the hood pulled up, emanating a strong smell of dope. The transmission got quite a test, there…
Catching my breath back near the Hussey Estate, I noted how desolate the site of the old garages at the rear of the Pelsall Road had become. When I was a kid there was decent street lighting here. Only the welcoming lights of the Activity Centre next door stopped it being utterly black. An unsettling ride, for sure….
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