Pubs « Bob the Bike Man

Archive for the ‘Pubs’ Category

Cycling in the groove…

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

You’ve seen and felt them on the motorway but when you’re in a car the suspension absorbs the shock. Ride over them on a bike and you’ll know all about it and, if you’re really unlucky, you might even be thrown to the tarmac…There used to be a couple on the westbound side of the Hagley Road between Five Ways and the Ivy Bush but these seem to have been ironed out by recent road repairs. Bet there’ll be a few more in Birmingham and loads of potholes too due to this freezing weather, so watch out and, when you spot one, report it via the city council website.

Toronto Star

Posted in Pubs, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Days of greenfly and roses….

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

With the bike serviced ready for the London-Paris Challenge, I took off on three final training rides last week.

Thge first run (on Sunday) took me out to Earlswood, Hockley Heath, Packwood, Knowle and back.

Riders on the road at Earlswood lakes.

(more…)

Posted in Canals, Earlswood, Pubs, Rides | No Comments »

I visit Downing Street…

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Well, the day following my meeting with our MP I thought that I really must visit Downing Street. There are two round here - one in Smethwick and the other near Halesowen. I pedalled over to Smerrick (as it is known round here) I’ll get over to Halesowen another day, the return up Mucklow Hill needs some serious mental preparation.

Downing Street, Smethwick

The haunt of prime ministers, or any minister for that matter, this certainly isn’t. However, I do believe that bicycle saddle makers Brooks are based at the city end - I cycled in the other dircection (must go back and ride the full length sometime). (more…)

Posted in Canals, Earlswood, Henley-in-Arden, Lowsonford, Pubs, Rides, Ullenhall | No Comments »

A musical angle…

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

With just eight weeks to go before the London to Paris ride I thought I should ratchet up the ‘training’ a bit. So I hit the road last Sunday for what turned out to be a fifty mile spin round the lanes.

Out of town via King’s Heath, Yardley Wood, and Wythall, the first stop was at Tanworth-in-Arden.

The church at Tanworth-in-Arden

I believe that Nick Drake, the singer songwriter brother of actress Gabrielle Drake, is buried in the churchyard here. He was born in June 1948 and like many creative people suffered from depression. Sadly he died of an overdose aged 26. (more…)

Posted in Canals, Henley-in-Arden, Pubs, Rides | No Comments »

A pint of wallop please landlord and a bag of peanuts for the gerbil…

Monday, May 4th, 2009

A spin out on Sunday 19th April took me by way of Hockley Heath and the Harvester pub.

Years ago this pub was the Wayfarer where we drank in the Kalahari Lounge. What possessed someone to plonk an African themed pub in leafy Warwickshire is now lost in time, but then it was the seventies and we were all wearing flares, kippers ties and safari jackets! The walls of the Kalahari were covered in leafless tree branches, layered vertically to give the impression that one was inside an African hut. And, to continue the sub-continent theme, let into the walls were illuminated glass fronted boxes in which lived several families of gerbils! Amazing! What would the RSPCA have to say about that these days?

Posted in Pubs, Rides | No Comments »

A different kind of rattle…

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Many thanks to Jack Mac for talking nicely to the landlady at the Court Oak and to her for agreeing to have a display card and collecting tin on the bar.

I’m told that the rattle of coins dropping in the tin has been heard regularly. Thanks in advance to all who contribute a few coins. It all helps.

Posted in Pubs | No Comments »

Right at the Bluebell, left at the Bull…

Saturday, March 7th, 2009

There was a time when one could stop a Brummie in the street to ask for directions and be guided to one’s destination via landmark pubs. With this in mind I went out on my bike for a ride south of Birmingham and photographed some of the pubs on the way.

Starting at the Court Oak in Harborne, just up the road from the Little Sisters and the start of all the rides in the Rides section elsewhere in this website. (In due course I’ll be expanding on the ride maps with written directions and relevant photographs).

The Court Oak, Court Oak Road, Harborne.

Riding down Court Oak Road towards the centre of Harborne, you’ll pass the site of the Duke of York on your left. Here modern apartments stand where Harborne’s biggest pub (?) once stood. Hanging right into Harborne Park Road and the Kings Arms on the corner is closed and looking for a buyer. Head along to Selly Oak and the Golden Cross, on the left near the QE Hospital, will soon be replaced with a new development (not including a pub!). Up the hill to Selly Oak, go right and left towards Bournville and the site of the old Oak pub is where Sainsbury is now. (more…)

Posted in Earlswood, Icknield Street, Pubs, Rides | No Comments »

Bob the Bike Man