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Next steps in/around Birmingham?

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nikki:
Hi,

I'm finally back in the saddle again after several years' absence. Oooch!
Low level of fitness; squiffy knee; bit scared of Birmingham traffic; but enjoying this 10 mile route along the Rea and canals: http://goo.gl/maps/CeBm which I'm now doing every other day or so.

I'm feeling the time is getting close to take things up a notch, though. Any recommendations for new routes to try?

Veloman:
Have you looked at some of the Skyrides around Birmingham available from the SkyRide site?

A lot of the routes are geared toward keeping it safe.

Do you have access to transport as areas like Sutton Park and Sandwell Valley would appear a good venue.

plum:
Immediately south of that loop are loads of nice quiet easy to ride roads. I ride, particularly shorter evening rides, around Whitlocks End, Kings Norton golf course, Earlswood. Relatively traffic free and leafy suburbia type scenery. From there when you want to upgrade again it's a nice easy push 5 miles south and you're into proper countryside heading out towards Redditch. Not too hilly round there so a good step up in terms of mileage without going mental. Then head West towards the Lickeys and Clent when you're really up for it.

Two clubs that I know of, Solihull and Beacon [Kings Norton] both have intro runs every so often to get newcomers onto the roads. OK so you're not a newcomer but you know what I mean.

Basil:
Hi nikki,
I'm not sure what sort of cycling you're after but,
As Veloman says, Sutton Park is a good fun option.  Take the bike on the Cross City Line to errm, Sutton.
However, if you do this at the w/e, you'd be well advised to travel early in the day as the trains do get busy later in the day.
You could ride to the city centre using the Rea Valley Route, or even better, use the Rea Valley or canal route to either Bournville or Selly Oak and take the train from there.  This has the advantage of you already smugly occupying the cycle space on the train as it arrives at New Street where all the other bikes and hundreds of baby buggies pile in.

Alternatively the are some lovely lanes to the south of Brum.  To get out of Brum you will have to climb.  This is unavoidable, but once you are up there are some lovely routes.
A suggestion for escaping the city could be Rea Valley/Canal to Primrose Hill.  (As you huff and puff up Primrose Hill just keep thinking how your climbing is improving and how much fun you're going to have when you come back down.

Basil:
Cycle Solihull do very gentle rides
http://www.cyclesolihull.org.uk/

And of course, I'm sure you're aware of Pushbikes.
http://www.pushbikes.org.uk/rides/index.shtml

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