Gravel Bike Ride to Costa del Brum & Las Sandwell

Birmingham & beyond

[Music] Let’s begin now. Let’s begin now. Street certified worldwide from Jamaica right now. Rock City Virgin Island. Back today guys on the GBGB great British gravel bike. Normally go that way to Birmingham, but we’re going to go the alternative route this way. Again, perfect weather conditions. for gravel biking. This track that I’m taking, the alternative today is a bit of nice, a bit of okay, and a bit of not so nice. So, we will take this little route, avoid the glass, around and under. Oh, under the double bridge. This bike just flies along stuff like this cuz I’ve made the tires bulletproof. So like a coiled spring, this part is the okay part of this section of canal. And then it goes very nice and then it goes not very nice, which is not too far ahead, but I’m going to do a proper piece of camera in a moment. God, this is bumpy. This section is the nice section of the toe path that takes you down to the main Birmingham Canal. Well, that’s hot. And that is the Netherton Tunnel. Today’s ride was going to be on my onehe. I was going to do a Marty Batch or back style video on the Nikolai Gotway and see how far I could get. as if it was the coffee wheel. But weather’s too nice to not go out again on the gravel bike. It is sort of like a guilty pleasure. I don’t want to like it, but I do like it. That’s what she said. So, let’s go that way. Without further ado, the weather today is a lot more forgiving during this heat wave we’re having. It’s nice and hazy cloud which is always welcome. A little look at the T junction of this canal. We’re headed that way. That way again joins the main Birmingham Wampton canal line. Got that much water in there which is about half a liter. And I’ve got a 2 L bladder pack in my back rucks sack. And it’s okay. We are still on the nice stuff. When it goes round to the storage depot, I think it’s DPD. There it goes. Horrible. But it’s the ground’s rock hard at the moment, which is even better. This bike reminds me of running. When I go for a run, I just put my trainers on and go out. And this bike, I just get on it and ride it. No worrying about suspension or anything like that. There’s a nice wind breeze today, which is against me, but it keeps you cool. But the good thing about the bars is you’re tucked in, so sort of slipstream. And like I say, we’re still on the good stuff. This section of canal ride takes you through Oldbury and it goes under the M5 and rejoins where the diversion is, where the walls damaged. So, we’ll jump back on the main canal shortly. Try some skills. Migills came this way a couple of weeks ago with Mark and Louis. Bike drove update. I’ve already sold one of the bikes. The full suspension has gone. And I thought keep the Pinnacle Hybrid for winter. This is very close to the edge with narrow bars. keep the 29iner for now and definitely keep this. But you guys know me, I change my mind like the weather and an EU is going to go. I’ve decided. So yeah, there you go. This section’s the not so good section by DPD. In the winter it’s horrible. It’s just all ruts and mud and goose poo. Got my sleeves up today on my shoulders because I don’t want to get that tan line that you get when you’re driving the car. Call it t-shirt tan or van tan. Oh, this isn’t too bad. It does go crappy along here, but something different. We are heading to Edgebas Reservoir to do a loop around there. I’m going to drop back down through Samuel Valley. It’s rude not to. This is like all extremes today. Smooth, rough, and bellow. Oh, here we go. We are just crossing over the main bridge where the diversion comes across on my right. That didn’t take long to get here. Dropping down again. Who decided to put these silly bloody stop rails in the way? Still impressed with the brakes. Excellent. Smithers. Wee. Lovely. On the main drag now of the Birmingham Wampton Canal. This is the overflow from the upper canal to here. The lower and that bridge there. I’m going to go across and take an alternative route which I haven’t done for about five six years. So, let’s go up there explore. This is a little path that takes you from the lower canal to the upper canal which is here. That way goes into Birmingham as well and joins up. I think I’m on the wrong side of the canal there. Yes, I am. But like I say, that’s where that’s where we were just. And there’s a little aqueduct here. And I’m going to go that way and then that way. And it brings me out somewhere over there. Okay. On the right side now. Okay. Hey, Mr. Steven Cigar. Okay. I think there’s a marina down here where a lot of boats are mowed. God, this looks like it hasn’t been used in a while. That’s what she said. Oh my god, this is well overgrown. Okay, I’ll be back if it’s any good. If not, we’ll be on the main stretch before you know it. This is well off paste. This is down in the depths of Birmingham. Oh well, looks like I’m going no further. Pvado, this is like the canal that time forgot. Engine bridge. No ax. Oh, hello. Whoop whoop. That’s the sound of the burger alarm. That was very shortlived. So, normally come from the right hand side on the main canal. And we’re heading now for Edgebaston Reservoir, which I believe is nearly dried up. Go around the edge of Winston Green Prison. As you can tell, all the cameras, all the all the criminals are in there locked up. Okay, we’ve made it to Edraston Reservoir. Check out the water levels. Let’s go around first. Okay, this is how low got its own little beach. Holy moly. Costel Birmingham or Costadel Broom on Straa today. It’ll look like I’m riding around the lane. Holy moly. This is a low. They’re dead. Look at that. That is super low. How far am I from the shore? Probably 25, 30 m. And my head is level with the path. Maybe a bit lower. Yeah, this is low, low, low. This will make a good thumbnail pick. I reckon today’s ride will be about 35 to 40 miles for I reckon. Definitely. Right, time for a thumbnail. Go for a ride around the edges of the shore. Why not? Oh, definitely need to change up the gears. Okay, time to get back on the main track around the other side of the reservoir now. Amazing. I think it’s about a mile and a half circumference around. Yep, there’s actually people in there. Well, Birmingham is not Birmingham without a ser on, is it? All right. Oh, man. Alive. Well, there you go. Edgebast Reservoir Moco. Very dry. Right. Little high of activity though, but I’ve never seen people swimming or paddling in it before. Some people over there. It’s up there about to do some paddle boarding. Cost Elum. Love it. Anyway, let’s go that way on this baby on the G2 summit. You’re on summit. Back on the main canal now. Going have a little ride into Brum around and back head out towards Sunwell Valley. Okay, it’s going to be busy here today. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s deck chairs in Costadel. Super busy. Won’t be long before the German markets back here. Multicultural city. Suddenly feel sick. Let’s see how many people get in the way. Psychos move, Get out the way. Get out the way, Get out the way. Nice. Incredible. Oh yeah. Look where we are. Black Sabbath bridge. I see gears up. Tony, he’s got machines in Bill. How about that? Wonder why everyone was stuck in here. Okay, cut him down a bit. Tap spoil normally on that side of the canal, but today we’re on this side. I don’t think I’ve ever written my bike down this side. I don’t know. Okay, let’s get out of Dodge. Cosmic Huracan, thank you for your comment recently. Did make me laugh and I enjoyed it. Thank you very much. All comments are always welcome. Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Breaking the law. Jumping on the metro now. Not literally. To cut through to San Valley. probably hear the motorway to my left. Just gone over that and we are entering Sandwell Valley. So, I’m going to do the Salon track and then drop through to the other side. Here we are at the top of the trail. Just see Swamp Pool in the distance. So, let’s see what this single track is like on a gravel bike. Should be pretty good. Nothing too sandy bits. Holy little jump there. Nice. Try and keep high on the B. Sand. High on the B. High. Just trying to further the brake. I keep it high. There’s less stuff to slip out on as it all gathers in the bottom. Oh yes. Ready drinks pipe. And there we go. Oh, the sign’s gone that says it’s this trail for you. Normally a skull and crossbones there which is death defying back by the M5. Backing him out. [Music] Just over now by Forge Mill Lake. Not many people in this one compared to the last one. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Omg. My skills. Migills. Bas. Super balance. Super control. Dropping down by the river tame and I’ll head back over the railway line and back. Okay, that last wind assisted. Green light for go. It’s when them siren sound and the light goes red. You got to check yourself before you wreck yourself. I think we’re under the M. Well, that is the M6 there. I’m sure it is. Oh, too far. Back on the canal. Heading homeward band. Oh, legs are killing. Let’s check mileage before I head back. Oh. There we go. Just come from that direction which is Bradley Junction. That way is Wolverampton. That way is Birmingham. So on the gravel bike. Oh, just sitting on a different surface. Makes the change from sitting on a razor blade. Just had a look at Strava and I’ve done 38.7 miles and it’s about another two miles back, two and a half miles back home. So I’ll go down the canal about half a mile cut off through Spring Veil Estate. Uh clouds have blocked the sun quite nicely just to give it a bit not so relentless with the vitamin D. But yeah, enjoyed that. Bit of a different ride. Oh, my feet feet feet go get to sleep on these pedals. Sometimes I get pins and needles. But yeah, totally enjoyed today. Uh back is wetter than an otter’s pocket with sweat. Tired. Enjoyed that though. No range anxiety. I just go until I can’t go no more. That’s what they said to them. Okay guys, uh, click the thumbs up, click the ding-dong, you know, the dub prefer kaka bubble, what should we call it. Hope you’ve enjoyed today’s vlog. Uh, yeah, just like I say, dipping in and out of YouTube at the moment, but thoroughly enjoying the farm gate as you do. So long, guys. Ha pronto. Ciao.