Good morning Phil,
The shop on Ladypool Rd. didn't sell fishing takle, only hold-alls of every kind. The cycle shop at Silver St. was, I believe, in Kings Heath. The owner was a good friend of mine, Tommy Godwin, he won a bronze medal at the Oylimpics some time in the 50's, 52 or 56. He was the first, paid, national cycling coach in Britain, is still alive and lives at Knowle. He made out the lap schedule for my, succesful, atempt at beating the 10 mile, 25 mile & 1 hour records in 1966 at Salford Park. This track got swallowed up by the "spaghetti junction" and no longer exists.
My first new cycle was a Hercules Harlequin, bought at Roger's cycle shop in Stoney Lane. From a very early age, I think 12 or 13, each Sunday I would cycle down to Gloscester and back without stopping! Just because it was a magical 100 miles there and back, no other reason! Had to cross the Malvern Hills on the way, British camp, but would rather die than get off and walk.
Graham.