German tourist seeks advice about Grand Union Canal

[CakeStop]

Given recent events I'm inclined to suggest an alternative route but can anybody advise about the surface of this tow path?

I'm a rider from Leipzig, Germany, and am planning to profit from a business trip with a road bike ride from Birmingham to London (Kings Langley station to avoid the city traffic of London) next Tuesday. I was wondering whether I could take the path next to the Grand Union Canal to leave the center of Birmingham without to much traffic. As I didn't find clear information on the internet, I'd like to ask you if you could tell me if this path (starting from Bordesley station through Olton and Elmdon Heath into Catherine-de-Barnes) is fully covered with tarmac or rather a gravel road?

Thanks a lot for the information!
Hendrik Zwiener

[jdtate101]

It's gravel all the way to CdBarnes. Although it does get a little muddy and sketchy at points. I'd recommend sticking to back roads, as it does go through some quite unsavoury areas.

[petemarshall]

Its fine, if a little muddy in places. Tarmac as far as Small Heath, then gravel down to Olton (although some pretty big pot holes) after that it's mud with a few gravel sections down to CdB. I suppose it really depends on your style of riding, but do able on a road bike, in that I do it, but after a bit of rain it is better with mudguards.
Go as fast as you can through the section behind the Ackers (now tarmaced) and don't stop for anything, although after the recent fuss the kids may be avoiding that area for muggings for a while. Loads of dog walkers from Acocks Green through to CdB.

If he is in a hurry then better to use the roads. There is a decent way marked route down through Digbeth, crossing the inner ring road with a crossing, up through Small Heath and after that the Coventry Road is not a real problem.
Or use R5 to Stratford, which would be my way of cycling to London. Make a route from there or carry on down R5 to before Oxford and then head to London on country roads mainly, or the A40 if insane.

[CakeStop]

As it sounds like he's staying in the city centre, unless he's keen to cycle all the way, I'm tempted to suggest taking a local train to the outskirts eg Solihull or Dorridge.

[petemarshall]

As it sounds like he's staying in the city centre, unless he's keen to cycle all the way, I'm tempted to suggest taking a local train to the outskirts eg Solihull or Dorridge.

Even better, he can stay on all the way to Marlylebone
Let's face it, other than a few hills in the Cotswold, until you get to the Tamar there not much going for Britain south of Solihull.

[Andy Terry]

He could follow the NCN 5 to Oxford and then NCN 57 into the Chilterns. It's not very direct though.

[Les Ladbury]

Given recent events I'm inclined to suggest an alternative route but can anybody advise about the surface of this tow path?

I'm a rider from Leipzig, Germany, and am planning to profit from a business trip with a road bike ride from Birmingham to London (Kings Langley station to avoid the city traffic of London) next Tuesday. I was wondering whether I could take the path next to the Grand Union Canal to leave the center of Birmingham without to much traffic. As I didn't find clear information on the internet, I'd like to ask you if you could tell me if this path (starting from Bordesley station through Olton and Elmdon Heath into Catherine-de-Barnes) is fully covered with tarmac or rather a gravel road?

Thanks a lot for the information!
Hendrik Zwiener

Don't tell him Pike