WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE MONKEY HOUSE?
AUTUMN CLASSIC
As the weather turns away from the heat of summer so the annual migration begins.
This year we have two routes heading south for you to choose from - one 100km and the other a bit longer and hillier. The routes are intended to be ridden over Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September but feel free to do them another day if don’t have availability that weekend.
The routes are available to be downloaded from the event section of the website.
No prizes - this is just for fun (and Kudos obvs).
Route 1
The Autumn Classica
Drop down to Bidford on Avon and then find your way back up to Brum. Some lovely lanes and countryside to enjoy but without the “fun” of the Cotswold climbs. A very approachable 100km with plenty of options to stop and enjoy a coffee and cake along the way.
Route 2The Autumn Classico
Heading past Bidford you will end up in delightful Cotswold villages (watch out for Harry and Meghan) and then you can choose to climb one or two or the classic climbs of the sub-edge.
Plenty of options for stopping off on the way down and the way back to supplement whatever you carry in your pockets / top tube bags or assorted luggage some riders prefer.
As this is self-supported and self-directed it would be nice to find a friend or 5 and do it with them! You might enjoy having a wheel to follow on the way home.
Thanks to David Morton for organising, and Neil Cocklin for graphics and route book.
GORILLA ENDURANCE
Steve Lawson is now on the last leg of his grand adventure cycling up the west coast of France from Bilbao so far he's done just under 1500km along some great paths, and some Kamoot howlers. He's raising funds for the Bike Project , so if you would like to sponsor him then check out his Facebook page for details.
HILL CLIMBS
Harry raced the Sir William Hill Climb in Derbyshire last Saturday in a respectable time of 8;38, and Scott Hamblett came 19th in what must have been a high class field at the Steatley Hill Climb. Chapeau to you both.
EXTERNAL CYCLING EVENTS HAPPENING THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO A GORILLA
On Sunday 20th September Cycle the Score - a guided bicycle concert through South Birmingham is starting and finishing at the MAC.
Cycle from MAC to Highbury Hall to Birmingham Brewing Co stopping for live performances by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group on the way. Then back to the MAC to become performers in Maurico Kagel's A Breeze - ringing bicycle bells, sounding horns, singing and whistling as one enormous ensemble.
Contact Midlands Arts Centre for tickets and more information.
Also on Sunday 20th September ,as part of Birmingham Heritage week, is A Thousand Journeys to Highbury between 11-5pm - as Kings Heath Station welcomes passengers once again to Highbury Hall & Park ,Chamberlain Highbury Trust have organised a family friendly celebration of travel, movement and arrival inspired by the many ways people reached Highbury Hall over the last 150 years. They are looking for cycling groups to come along as a group and lead a journey through the park. contact the trust for more details.
On Saturday 3rd October Solihull Cycling Club are organising a Tony Satterthwaite Memorial Cycle Event at the 2.5 mile closed road Fen End Proving Ground circuit between 9am-1pm. Registration required at Smarti96@jaguarlandrover.com, there is no fee to ride, but a donation to the charity is encouraged.
The Big Bike Film Night is on at the MAC on Tuesday 13th October , it's a cycling film festival that began 12 years ago in New Zealand, bringing together the world’s best short cycling films.
This year's programme showcases 2.5 hours of moving bike films that have everything a cycle-centric audience could want, celebrating the fun, adventure, and inspiration that cycling enables.
Our UK line-up includes a moving movie, set in Cheltenham, about a father and son’s journey as they take on one of life’s most meaningful milestones- riding a bike together as a family; a Scottish mountain bike escapade; and a self-supported ultra-cycling on Ireland's 'TransAtlantic Way' by the talented Bristol-based filmmaker Fergus Coyle. The collection also includes many other outstanding films, including a phenomenal road-cycling film featuring Eros Poli's famous 1994 Tour de France Mont Ventoux stage win.
Details to book if you fancy it:
Date
Time
Birmingham
Ticket Booking Link
Tuesday 13th October
7pm
Midland Arts Centre
https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GDPT
Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
Facebook Event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1237812705135473/
In Syria in October it is the 2026 Arab Cycling Championships and Ahmad Moftah ( insta @mofkeys ) is riding for Palastine with 3 other riders based in Lebanon. Their cycling federation has very limited resources ,so if you wish to help out justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ahmed-mouftah
CLUB RIDES
Thursday rides are all ready up, but there are still a few spaces available if you head over to our website ( not a member - no problem - use the code freeride26 for a free trial).
Sunday rides will go up later today/tomorrow.
If you are riding tonight remember to bring lights you can see by (big lights), rather than lights that you are seen by ( small lights).
See you later
Bruno