I tend to just ride down the A5127 to Sutton from town. It's not pleasant, but it's no-worse-than-usual cars rather than dark corners, broken glass and sketchy surfaces. YMMV.
(Birmingham *desperately* needs a decent cycling route in this direction. All the alternatives are some combination of socially unsafe, hilly and complicatedly indirect.)
Thanks! How's the A5127 roundabout by Spaghetti Junction?
Theres an underpass that's a bit glass strewn and deserted.
Or you can drop into the canal just before the roundabout.
Or you can go round Salford pond , down the works road and onto the canal.
The roundabout isn't too bad coming out of town as long asmyou are happy to take the lane.....much better now that the traffic lights are there. Going the other way is , erm, challenging when it's busy.
Lisa at CSB is currently doing some morning commuter rides from wylde green station into the city to show people various routes...Wednesday mornings, 7.15 ...wrong way for you but might give some ideas, plus there was a free coffee !