Our Graham’s a real high flyer this Xmas
Welcome to City Flyer – the ride of your life that makes you feel like you are Spider-Man whooshing through the air above Birmingham. It’s a real-life marvel, but be warned... even the man who put it there admits he ‘‘bricked it’’ the first time he had a
IF you are at all of a nervous disposition then just standing next to City Flyer will turn you into a knee-tremblin’, finger-shakin’, throat-dryin’, eye waterin’, teethchatterin’, pants-fillin’ physical wreck. And that’s even before you’ve paid a fiver for the privilege of stepping an inch off the ground and wondering if you will live to tell the tale.
Just looking up at the ride’s pencilthin structure will be the stuff of jaw-droppin’ nightmares for some. All you can see at an astonishing 55m (180ft) high in the air are the tiny green, metal bucket seats that you could be sitting in!
They just seem to be hanging by loo chains from spidery spindles designed to swirl you over Centenary Square like a superhero. Gulp!
Even Ice Skate Birmingham’s Abie Danter, who has installed this monster next to his 40m Big Wheel and 25m x 25m Ice Rink, admitted he had ‘‘bricked it’’ when he had a ride.
But, hey, you only live once. And, if you are brave enough, once you are up at the top, the extraordinary feeling of total freedom and weightlessness is something else.
The 55m tall City Flyer ride is almost as tall as the Library of Birmingham (60m). Of the buildings on the other side of Broad Street, it’s level pegging with the new HSBC UK HQ and not far behind The Cube (70m) and the Hyatt Regency Hotel (75m).
But I was pleasantly surprised how relaxed I felt about taking what felt like would be my first journey into space. That’s because once the chairs are at ground level, the ride suddenly softens and makes you think that it’s one from childhood.
I then walked up the red carpet gangway ready to climb into the seat, noting the safety warning that all loose items must be secured.
A member of the Ice Skate Birmingham team made sure that both of the key safety features were locked in place – the seat belt and a metal barrier lock, too. It helped that he was smiling kindly with reassurance, not devilishly with mischief.
Some safety advice – nobody, but nobody, should try to use a phone up there. Both of my specially-approved cameras had straps that kept them very securely attached to my neck and I double checked all of their fittings.
Then, with a sudden whoosh of what appeared to be curved air, I was being smoothly whisked up into the sky like one of Marvel’s finest.
It’s incredibly high, especially when you are hanging from those ‘loo’ chains while the wind chafes your face and your eyes water. But I found it totally exhilarating and not remotely frightening – and the good news is that doesn’t feel like your back or neck are at risk from the kind of jolts you can experience on some rollercoasters.
In fact, the way the ride swoops you up off the ground and into the air is quite magical. You can imagine you are in a scene from any of your favourite movies. So if you don’t like SpiderMan, think Mary Poppins... or Harry Potter.
Riding it in daytime, during twilight (on the right kind of wonderful sunset day) and at night (with the twinkling lights of the Big Wheel and Ice Rink) will offer three completely different experiences. You’ll want to go back again and again and again.
But do remember that summer has long gone. No matter how cold it is on the ground, it might well be even colder whizzing through the air. So wrap up warm and take a hat, scarf and gloves.
If you don’t wear glasses and there is a biting wind, you might want to wear (tight-fitting) sunglasses or goggles just to keep the wind out of your eyes, especially if they are prone to turning red.
The Big Wheel and the City Flyer ride cannot be booked online. They have to be paid for as you go and the cost is £5 each. Prices for the Ice Rink are adults £10.50; children (12 & under) £8.50; students £9.50, families (2+2 or 1+3) £36. The Ice Skate Birmingham attractions will be open daily from 10am to 10pm through to Sunday, January 12.