A new regular date?

Sometime earlier this year, there was a regular ride every thursday evening.

Unfortunately I only made half of the first one, before my bike broke. By the time I got a replacement it had all gone a bit flaky, went on one short spin with dan - then the winter kicked in.

As difficult as it was to get everyone together, wouldnt it be good to have a set time & date every week for a group ride? A couple people bound to show up every time, as well as stragglers not directly wired to the internet/people who want to spontaneously show up?

How about it, a regular time even when its raining ? A gentle roll around or hard training/racing dependent on the mood of whoever shows.

I put forward sunday 1pm. - Usual spot, Pigeon Park.

Nice one DFP - That would be the most convenient day/time for me...

What about those of us who uphold the tradition of Sunday Lunch? 3.00 would be better.

What about those of us who uphold the tradition of Sunday Lunch? 3.00 would be better.

I have sunday lunch at 3pm

I have sunday lunch at 3pm

I have mine around 5pm.

No one showed today, but I wasnt expecting anyone to.

Still went on a ride though, you all missed out on me taking a mighty slam almost breaking my pelvis in front of hundreds of shoppers.

Do not underestimate shiny wet surfaces kids!

Who eats LUNCH AT 3-5 PM??? Weirdos

I wake up quite late on a sunday, sometimes as late as 11am, and there's no way I'm starting cooking straight away.

oh ok, my mom cooks lunch, so I get up and eat Sunday lunch for breakfast :)

Maybe saturday morning/midday would be better?

I dunno man, bare human traffic in the city centre, plus nuff car traffic too...

I tell you what man forget about what I said about 3pm, cos really I should rest on Sundays anyway, and I sometimes have people over for dinner in the afternoon,so probably wont come to the rides that often.

Wouldn't mind a countryside sesh one day though

How is everyone's weekend looking this week? (Does that read right?)

*cue Austin Powers-like moment "Please allow myself to introduce.............myself"*

Coffee + Ride / Ride + Ale ?

i think if this was going to properly be a regular thing an evening would be better. thursday or friday evenings, 6 or 7ish?

think it'd be a good way to get rid of a weeks worth of work stress, party and not have it potentially take up a whole day of the weekend. just my 2cents.

by the way, hi. i know a few people off here but hello to those who i dont.

I think something that was more social would encourage more people to come along, ie more drinking than cycling, like they do in London.

I agree - so how about every other Friday evening? 6.30pm meet - with the idea that those who can't meet for 6.30 can just cruise along a little later.
We could gather on bikes somewhere easy, then take a short pedal to a decent ale-house - one with decent, secure bike locking amenities..... that way, we get a cycle in, even if its just half an hour, and some ale. Others can just head straight to our preferred pub at a specific time....
(By this, i am merely suggesting an initial idea. Feel free to abuse and offer different)

I agree - so how about every other Friday evening? 6.30pm meet - with the idea that those who can't meet for 6.30 can just cruise along a little later.

+1.

It should defo be 'regular' too to build up some momentum for when the summer finally arrives... Aah I can imagine it now, ahem!

I know it is winter and a little cold but no matter.... Lets get fu**ing shredding.

Sounds good, which pub?

If you don't mind me running with this - I'm presuming that a meet up in central Brum is O.K?

There's a few places that we could meet, but feel free to input as we go along, cos for some of us (me included...). a decent beer would be welcome, rather than some fizzy orange whip that tastes bland.
How about firing out your preferences, and we'll see who backs up what? Do you prefer decent ambience, or reasonable surroundings with a decent pint? We need to lock the bikes up too, so maybe I can start with somewhere in the Arcadian area... Shakespeare? The Dragon? (Never drank in either?)

I wrote a reply to this at work but by the time i clicked on 'reply' it asked me to logged back in and i lost my message. balls. so trying to remember my points:

i think the reason the weekly ride died so quickly because it was so 'regular' that it didnt seem like anything special. I'm all for ending at a pub/bar/club but if its just going to be a small quick ride then hitting the pub for the night, i dont see how thats much different from bham CM, which for me has got kinda dull.

personally i think it'd be better as a monthly night rather than a bi-monthly (initally). I say that because looking at smaller places like seattle that have had their events/scene/whatever grow they started with a monthly thing and it grown from there.

that gives enough time to plan stuff and would make people change plans/put more effort in to attend. also it gives time for people to think of more creative activities/rides/games/ideas/flyers even, generally get more people into it and pumped for it when it happens, making it a good night rather than just another ride.

I can see your point mastershredder, and in some ways i agree. I think that what i'm trying to establish is weather there's a handful of you out there that like me, are nailing it round Birmingham, rolling solo... and if so, we could arrange to meet up then have a few beers.. Whilst saving events, races and alleycats to monthly meets. This way, I can stop boring the tit's off my missus, and talk bikes to you lot.

Well, how about we do something on the third friday of every month, so it's CM on the first Friday and then this on the third. After thinking about it more, I agree with mastershredder, having more of a proper organised event first would be much better. It's just a matter of working out what to do. Races, alleycats, joustingskid/trackstand competitions, tricks all spring to mind.

Shakespeare?

Is that the one by the BT tower? If so, that'd be a good location because its kinda quiet round there, and also theres a large, heated outdoor seating bit at the back of the pub so we could keep an eye on the bikes under a nice heater! Also, plenty of places to lock up to for extra security.

...for some of us (me included...). a decent beer would be welcome, rather than some fizzy orange whip that tastes bland.

In which case you want either the Anchor, or the Wellington.

The staff in the Anchor will usually let you take your bikes through to the back garden, if there are not too many people in there and there aren't too many people in your group.

I hadn't been to the Anchor for a few months until last week. I forgot what all the fuss was about, until someone bought me a beer. I was expecting it to taste like, well, just beer. But 'just beer' doesn't normally make me say "Fuuuuuucking hell! That's fucking nice, man!"

It is a bit of an old man's pub though, which some people might not like. And Critical Mass seems to end up there every time.

Go for the wellington. They provide plates & cutlery if you bring your own food. See people ordering pizzas in there all the time.

I was going to mention the Anchor - but as it's just a minutes walk from my place, i thought that may be unfair.... The Wellington however, sounds like a decent refreshment venue.
Messenjah - i totally feel you man. On some days, a beer is a beer. But on some occasions its like a revelation.

Messenjah and DFP, what are your thoughts on a social meet? Every other week, once a month, or something else?

People have proven too flaky in winter (including myself)

Could set a weekly time, and if weather is good that should mean it is definetly on and everyone should come.

Ideally that would work, but so far it hasnt. Possibly a planned inventory for a short ride and a endstop (presume the wellington) would intice people to come out.

Well, how about we do something on the third friday of every month, so it's CM on the first Friday and then this on the third. After thinking about it more, I agree with mastershredder, having more of a proper organised event first would be much better. It's just a matter of working out what to do. Races, alleycats, joustingskid/trackstand competitions, tricks all spring to mind.

yeah i was also thinking of non-track/fixed gear specific things like, (getting a bit creative but..):

-a masks ride
-north bham ride
-west, east and south rides too
-playing tig (tag) on bikes (can think up the rules later)
-ride to the lickeys/sutton park
-put names of birmingham areas in a hat and pick them out to make up the route.
-if someone had a projector, someone else bring speakers, someone else a charged laptop etc, could find a spot/wall to show some short bike films

all of these could end in the pub or whatever else. i dont know, these are just some ideas to explore parts of the city one would never usually ride in, meet new people, make every night unique.

I know its winter (I haven't rode as much as I've wanted to either) but i dont think just because the weather is good that everyone will magically come out. people have other commitments too. don't wanna seem like i'm critising, just being real.