Tag: 365daysofbiking

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….

March 1st – Cycling home in the daylight for a change – I can see myself really getting used to this spring thing – I cycled down the Goscote Valley cycle trail, NCN 5. Hopping off at Pelsall, I cycled through High Heath. I hadn’t noticed this little redbrick chapel before – I think it has now been converted into a house. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and I love the preserved old-style cast iron street signs at the corner. Does anyone have more information? Funny how you can cycle past something for years without really noticing it.

February 29th – I left work in the light, which steadily faded as I approached Walsall. Another lovely sunset was trying to grab the Black Country’s attention. The trouble with good urban sunsets is finding the right view to set them off. Just as I turned into Scarborough Road in Pleck, I glanced over the canal bridge wall. Beautiful.

February 29th – I keep passing this odd house in King’s Hill, Darlaston, and it’s strangely fascinating to me. It’s not a bit like it’s neighbours, and seems like a real stylistic miss-mash. It’s an odd building, and I wonder what its history is? It’s clearly quite old. The bay doesn’t match either of the upper windows, which themselves clash – although the sills are the same. An odd little curiosity.

February 28th – Returning very late from work, cresting the Black Cock Bridge (no sniggering at the back) I stopped to take a picture of the night-time view of Camden Street down towards Oak Park. When I turned around to climb back on the bike, I realised the view behind me was far more interesting. This footbridge (actually green in the daylight) was added to the canal bridge in the 1980’s, and is made from tubular steel, which, when lit by my rear light, looks quite stunning… beauty in unexpected places.

February 28th – Unusually, I passed through Aldridge on my way to work today. While popping into the shopping centre, I noticed a Royal Mail bike parked up near Anchor Road. These are a longstanding design, manufactured by Pashley in the UK. They weigh a ton, but have lots of solid, dependable tech – hub brakes and gears by Sturmey Archer, step through frame, Scwalbe marathon plus puncture resistant tyres, and dutch-style wheel lock on the rear, as well as the all important sturdy rack and front tray. Sadly, these bikes could be a passing tradition, as the wonks at the Royal Mail are apparently considering discontinuing the use of bicycles. Idiots.