Birmingham questions answered thread...

I liked it. Ostensibly expensive at c£4.50 a pint, but the drinks are so rich that you don't want to chug them anyway. I tried some crazy-strong IPAs which were great, but people have said the porter was too cold. Not exactly an every day boozer, but I'm thankful they're there and doing something different.

I think the prices reflect the strength of the beers...and the quality is good. Good shout for a different drinking experience, not great if you wanna ride home after though

Cheers - will have to check it out at somepoint

Anyone now a good traditional barber to get a decent beard trim?

Know heaps of them round here, not sure about up by where you live.

Its hard to go wrong at barbers with beard/shaving stuff, they are all very good at it.

jacks of london on temple street (?) in town was always good, although my usual barber has since left, few trad barbers round the jewellery quarter too

My local one is cheap and cheerful but the beard trim i got from him was below par - think it's a bit more of a niche thing, don't mind spending a bit more money to smarten it up

Finos in moseley do a good straight razor shave.

Zagros on the poorer end of Moseley have a nicer larger shop with several sharply dressed Turkish Barbers and prices about 50% lower. Just saying.

why the flip do I keep breaking my trousers?

I think I've gone through 5 pairs of jeans, chinos and "work" trousers in the last 8/9 months and its getting to me. I think the new fashion of having a baggier crotch has caused my bottoms to tear when I ride in them regularly, yet If I buy some none fashionable trousers I end up with flared legs or corduroy.

Anybody got any suggestions..

There's a new fashion in baggier crotches? How don't I know about this!?! All this time spent fine-tuning my braces to *raise *my crotch and I should've been going the other way...

My Dickies work trousers (I think they're called redhawks or something totally insensitive to the Native American community) are great and very durable. £15 on ebay with 9 pockets (that's less than £2 per pocket!), a choice of leg lengths and reinforced knees. I've been told on several occasions that they're slimming and in my day Dickies was kind of a cool brand.

The bad news is that I wear them every day, so if you bought a pair everyone would think you're trying to look like me.

poorer end of moseley?

It is possible to buy jeans that are slim fit (so don't snare in your chain) and not baggy crotched.

You just have to be comfortable looking like a dad.

i find the problem with skinny jeans is they mostly seem to be low rise which whilst cycling leaves you arse exposed

I was thinking about splashing out on a pair of levi commuters or swrve just for casual cycling

Got some from Burton recently that seem to fit that description. Just slim enough round the calf not to get in the chain, but plenty of room elsewhere without being baggy.

It is possible to buy jeans that are slim fit (so don't snare in your chain) and not baggy crotched.

You just have to be comfortable looking like a dad.

Topman £30
I always ride in them.

Any Rollapaluza this year?

Only if they put a bigger gearing on and make sure the fucking saddles stay up.

http://vimeo.com/37428702

1:51

i find the problem with skinny jeans is they mostly seem to be low rise which whilst cycling leaves you arse exposed

I was thinking about splashing out on a pair of levi commuters or swrve just for casual cycling

I went in to Levi's today in town and they have no commuters in stock, they didn't sell so they sent them all to the London stores lol

My knees can't take how spinny it is, thats why I've got a nice 50t chainring now,

Anyone recommend a tattoo artist/place in Brum? Pondering my first but it'd help to know who's out there and what sort of work they can do etc etc.

Got mine done at spear studio in KH, but i only have the one so no good for comparisons!

Maybe Barry's your best bet?

Modern Body Art, they're on corporation street (the law courts end)

I go to Stourbridge to get tattooed by a Cov local.

Been thinking about it for ages, just not done anything about it yet. Maybe a Birthday present to self or something this year.