Hi from Birmingham, UK
 

Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you!

I'm an adoptive Brummie, having moved here a couple of years ago from London and, before that, Edinburgh. Turns out Birmingham is not an especially cycle-friendly city, even though it was once the hub of Britain's cycle manufacture; most of those same bike manufacturers moved on to cars, and Birmingham's civic culture followed. Still, there are plenty of canal paths (More Miles than Venice™) and, more recently, a couple of flagship segregated cycleways have been built. It's turning itself around, slowly.

I have a problem buying ready-made bikes, it seems. At the moment, the shed contains a 1983 Peugeot UO-12 (converted to a single-speed, because of course it is) brought back from a trip to Canada; a Planet X Kaffenback 2 with a 1x10 Sram/Campy drivetrain; and a drop-bar 2009 Kona Caldera with a Project 2 fork, 27.5 wheels, and a 2x10 Shimano/Sram/Campy drivetrain. It shouldn't work, but it does.

Cheers,
Keith

Welcome!! It's great that your city is coming around. It's great riding around exploring places. That's a pretty nice stable you have. Hopefully you can post pics of them

Thanks! Not sure the reality can possibly match the promise, but I'll post some pictures once I hit the magic ten posts.

Hi Keith,
The towpaths around Brum are well looked after this time of the year. Make sure you head out to the Black Country. Get yourself a good light and do the Netherton tunnel out towards Merryhill.
Where in Birmingham are you?
Try and get to their Critical mass they need a bit of new blood I hear.

The towpaths are great, although they can be a bit congested. The city is crying out for a joined-up network of on-road cycle paths, but then so are most places.

I'm down in south Birmingham, so the Clent and Lickey Hills aren't too far away. There's a climb up through Romsley that I quite enjoy.

I've been taking part in the Push Bikes social rides, but I'll have to have a look at Critical Mass too. Thanks for the reminder.