The Gravelton 2024

Yesterday was 12 months since the inaugral Gravelton, which, in the space of the past year has grown into a 9 month-long calendar. A bit mad really.

In my true unprepared style, I realised on Friday I had no nutrition and my bike hadn’t been touched for weeks, only having a new lower headset bearing fitted a couple of weeks ago. I took it out for a spin around the close and ran through the gears. That’ll do. It just needed the tyres pumping up a bit. A late run down to Home Bargains bagged me four gels to take. I’m not a fan of trying new stuff on a planned ride but I had no choice.

No quiet night in either, Sally, I and our neighbour went out to an open mic night at the pub and sank a few beers. I got to bed after 11pm for a 6am alarm.

I felt quite good when I woke. I had plenty of time to fit my bike bags and pump my tyres. Breakfast was a bit of granola then coffee. We’d had a heavy downpour overnight so there was a chill in the air, so I opted to ride to the start with arm warmers and a thin gilet.

I left just after 7am and ambled over to Alvechurch. It’s a lovely time of of the day. No cars, a bit of rising sun and the sound of the birds ringing in your ear. I got to the start about 7.20am. No one around only dog walkers on the towpath. I took some photos and then rolled out, itching to get on with it.

It’s a nice easy, flat start along the towpath to Hopwood but it was pretty sloppy in places. I was in no rush. Last year was all new and I was more in a challenge frame of mind, this time I was intent on enjoying the sights and sounds a bit more. The challenge element would be inevitable later on as the distance began to bite.

The first steep climb comes at the mouth of Wast Hill tunnel. A steep pitch up and away from the towpath and then up the lane that tracks it. The route takes you through Hawkesly estate down some ‘between the houses’ paths and across some open parkland (lots of long wet grass) to pick up the canal again at the exit of the tunnel. Then it’s the familiar canal ride into the city via Bournville and Selly Oak. It’s usually quite busy with students walking and running but I thought it was much quieter than normal all the way into Brindley Place and Gas Street Basin. As you cross the canal and head out North eastwards you can almost guarantee you’ll see someone ‘dodgy’ but no one, I had the canal all to myself pretty much all the way to Spaghetti Junction.

I nearly went the wrong way at Spaghetti. You turn right but have to cross a bridge which I missed and nearly headed up the wrong canal. Spaghetti to Tyburn was pretty clear and fast too. Uninhibited towpath all the way tracking the Tyburn Rd before jumping off. From here it was a quick spin through a housing estate before crossing into Pype Hayes Park. This, from experience is always busy but again I found it quite quiet. What I did notice though was how green it was. Grass, plants and bushes all blooming.

Pype Hayes lead into Newhall Valley Country Park before popping me out in Sutton Coldfield. I climbed over the railway and dropped into Sutton Park where I found the Parkrun in full flow. It must be a big one as hundreds were taking part. I had to ride parallel to them just off the main path which was fine, just more offroad!

I’d changed the route from exiting the park to the next section, which was based on The Gravelton Rewind last September. It seemed a little further but I preferred it. The canal towpath to Chasewater is one of my favourite sectors on the route. Really quiet and good quality, hard-packed gravel so it rides really well. No potholes to worry about.

At Chasewater, a Parkrun was on there too but it looked like it was nearly over as the volunteers were out but I didn’t see any runners on course, just milling around waterside. I have to say though, I do find it a bit ironic Parkrunners think they’re doing something healthy but all drive there. The car park was rammed. Most of them must be reasonably local? Walk, cycle or car-share at least. It’s a bit lame and selfish really.

Anyway, after the skies were looking ominously grey earlier the sun began to pop out and warm things up. I considered stopping at the cafe on the far side as I was nearing 3hrs in on only a couple of gels but decided to stick to the plan to stop on the Chase later.

The climb over Gentlemans common seemed harder than it should have been. Groups of youths with rucksacks were all over it. Probably all D of E but I did feel for them. They were fully loaded and it was becoming really warm too. Great views back to a hazy-looking city.

Then it was the best part of the ride. Cannock Chase. It’s awesome and hard in equal measure. The climbs give you no quarter but being in the forest listening to nature makes it worthwhile. The steady climb up past Castle Ring gave way to a long steep descent and then it was a steep climb up the other side of the valley. As I popped out into Tackeroo campsite I saw tape everywhere and thought an MTB race was on but turned out it was yet another running event. Looked like a trail run. Some of the runners looked exhausted. I saw a sign marking the 6 mile point so assume it was 10 miles or similar. Tough terrain too as it criss-crossed my route up and down crazy steep trails. I saw a rider try one on his MTB and had to get off and push near the top.

I passed a water station for the event and followed the runners for a few hundred metres before they peeled off. I dropped to the foot of the valley on a really fast wide trail before climbing back up the other side. Here the Garmin had a wobble. I took a right at a fork which was correct but it said I was off-course so I took the left to be told I was off again. I went the original way and it then said I was on-course. They are annoying sometimes.

I was almost 4hrs in and hungry now but I new my lunch stop was just over the top. When I got to Spring Slade Lodge I expected it to be busy given the weather and time but I found a table easily. Peeling myself off my bike and my back was pretty locked and out of shape. I had to spend some time stretching it out before I could order some food. It’s been plaguing me for weeks since it locked up in a gym class. My whole back seems to pull over to the left which makes me look like the shape of a crisp. It’s getting better with physio slowly but requires some attention after rides.

Food ordered, I smashed beans on toast, a club sandwich, coffee and a bottle of water. I figured, despite how sick I might initially feel when I got going again, it would pay off nearer the end.

It was really warm now so I removed my arm warmers and enjoyed the descent from the cafe to Bednall. From here was the re-route around last years towpath that pummelled the riders south of Penkridge but a bridleway that cuts along the side of a field I’d introduced initially made me think I was back on it. It was horrific but thankfully only about 100m of it, the rest I rode along the soft edge of the field and it was done. Might have to reconsider that bit.

The tarmac transition to the canal was broken up by my Tro Bro Leon inspired sector. A simple offroad farmtrack joining two lanes.

It was back on the canal south now heading for Wolverhampton. I’d decided to re-route off the towpath and take riders through Aldersley Leisure village and pick up the disused railway line that runs parallel to the canal for a change. It was quite sheltered and soft in places but I really enjoyed it because it was easier to get around walkers due to being much wider.

It eventually crossed the canal where last year we got off the towpath. I always find the South Staffs Railway path hard because it just seems eternally long and straight. It just seems never ending. It’s a game of two halves too. The first section is narrower but has a good surface. The second half is much wider and a bit of a free-for-all. Cut up, muddy and mucky. You end up riding from side to side around deep sections of mud which keeps you concentrating. Thankfully you don’t have to ride all of it and the route bears right at Wombourne. You pop out and quickly get back on the canal and head south twards Prestwood and Kinver.

At this stage I was beginning to ache. The legs were ok but my back, neck and arms were complaining. Probably a lack of offroad riding that conditions them was the reason.

At Whittington the last of the canal was done and I was beginning to prepare myself for the sting at the end. I remembered at this point last year I was beginning to crack but I felt ok despite my aches. Lunch was flowing through my legs.

The bridleways that skirt Stourbridge are a good barometer. I managed them ok and thought I just need to manage myself over Clent and Waseley and I’m there.

Into Clent and the sting literally began around the corner. Left then left and I was on the climb. I just kicked the gears down and settled into a rhythm telling myself it doesn’t matter how long it takes, just keep pedalling. I did stop on the Clent climb, more to give my back a rest than my legs. At the summit, I gave myself a brief moment to soak up the view south to the Malverns but decided not to stop and just stay in the zone.

Walton Hill was hard. It’s a short but steep climb and the pulling on the bars really gave my shoulders and back some grief but I churned it out. I wanted to stop at the trig point for a photo but a couple of walkers got there before me so I just carried on and dropped off. The descent finished my hands and arms off. I could hardly brake so I was letting go, braking hard, letting go just to give them a moments rest.

Moor Hall Lane was another short steep one with added hot sun on my back. Picking my line was a challenge because I was so fatigued. I just focussed on an imaginary line at the top and counted down the metres. Done, I told myself just 3 more.

The descent was super-fast over cattle grids and more heavy-braking. Back on roads now for the short sharp bastard up Woodfield Lane then the long drag up Quantry Lane. For Chapmans Lane I tried a higher gear and the legs didn’t complain. The heat was killing me though and I was almost out of water so I decided to stop at the cafe at Waselely and quickly down a couple of fizzy drinks.

The Waseley Climb was made more difficult because cows had been moved into the first field you climb across and the normally open gate, in the corner, was closed and locked. I had to pick my bike up and drop it over and climb over and resume the climb. At the top I knew the worse was over now which gave me the impetus to push on. The views were great too.

I climbed the Donkey Path to the steps pretty well and then the last real climb of the day to the top of the Lickeys. Here I called Sally to meet me at the pub for a beer. I crossed over towards the visitors centre then dropped down and picked my way along the bridleway to Barnt Green. You seem to get a secondwind when you’re near finishing a long ride and this was the same. A quick spin up over the M42 and I was left with drop down the bridleway I’d done some 9 hrs earlier when I arrived. You can’t beat a downhill finish.

I rolled into the pub beer garden. Pleased but pretty fucked. A couple asked me how far I’d been. ‘Is that normal?’ I was asked. ‘…no, it’s not normal’ I replied which summed the day up really. Not normal.

I’m sure a lack of offroad riding due to all the recent rain played a part. My fitness was good, I got round 20 mins quicker than last year but my conditioning was a bit below-par.

Anyway, I’m off to have a stretch

Adios