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@DFP
Glad you liked it. Were you here for the mad thunderstorms or did you get here for the sun?
A lot of canal around the city centre is indeed beatifully maintained as its something the city tries to promote as a tourist spot/element of pride. The tunnel you probably went through is curzon st tunnel which is awesome to go through at night because they have cool lighting. Its actually been the location of a couple art & theatre projects. The unused station above it was the site from which the very first service from Birmingham to London was begun. The Birmingham-worcester canal around selly oak where the university is, is super lush. But the tidyness quickly dissapears, and you realise most the canal around the edges of the city are in a pretty appalling state. Completely unsurfaced so your swimming in mud when it rains or bobbing up and down on mounds when its dry. Its like this around small heath (former site of the BSA factory) and between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Although its looooaaaadddsss better than trying to ride the same bits by road.
If you just want to get to the city though, taking the canal can be a lot like taking the tube. You miss busy 'cultural' spots and get a weird idea of the distances between places. But you do get a view of Birminghams industry and avoid birmingham drivers who are no familiar with bikes.
I hope you enjoy your 531 raleigh, you may also be interested to hear that the tubing wouldve originated in Birmingham also as the Reynolds headquarters/factory are here. (aswell as brooks)