York
Mostly generic beer but a couple of taps with decent beers. Two small rooms on two floors and a fab (though compact) deck with glimpses of the minster. Friendly.
Author: Tom
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The little ale house
Harrogate
A lovely little pub with a small beer garden. An exceptional selection of beers. Friendly.
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The track and sleeper
Knaresborough
Located on platform one this small but fab pub is worth a visit. Limited opening times. Seating in two small rooms inside or on a nice day on the station platform. Watch the world go by. Decent selection of beers.
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Half moon
Knaresbourgh
Lovely location by the river, some outside seating, beer garden, open plan room split into two sections. Small but very good selection of beers on tap. Very good sharing platters and soup. Friendly.
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Blind Jacks
Knaresborough
Legendary watering hole, multiple small rooms across two floors. No beer garden. A modest but very good selection of beers on tap. Beers change regularly so plenty to keep you interested. Friendly.
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Six poor folk
Knaresborough
A small but good selection of beers on tap. Two small rooms on two levels. Beer garden out the back. Friendly.
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Starling, bar cafe kitchen
Harrogate
July 2022
Amazing pizza, a very good selection of beers on tap. Upstairs is a decent sized open plan dining room with floor to ceiling window that makes the room light and very pleasant.
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Wheel builders and bike shops
Good wheels make a good ride. Good bike shops provide good advice!
Local
- Bachory cycles
Online
These are large online retailers that have generally provided a good service.
Wheels
- https://www.justridingalong.com/
- Edco
Places to try (as recommended on Singletrack):
- https://siltmtb.com/
- https://www.blueflowwheels.com
- https://bikewheelsdirect.com/
- https://www.stradawheels.co.uk/
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The hell of the north
Commentating on live bike racing is a dangerous business
Is commenting in a foreign language a hindrance or a help? Watching the first womens Paris Roubaix is an amazing historic moment. That it is being broadcast is good, though perhaps if they had chosen to make a feed available for the whole race that would do even more to promote womens racing. As always with cycling coverage the Eurosport team is a diversity of nations and that includes the Dutch presenter Iris Slappendel on the moto who gloriously described her experience in a live segment with the words “I’m shitting my pants”.
Now let’s be honest no native English speaker is going to come out with such a succinct and honest assessment of what it’s like to be in the race. And this is often the case that in our own language we instinctively censor ourselves. While in another tongue we feel far more comfortable about simple trying to express what we feel.
So here is to all of our fantastic cycling commentators, communicating with us honestly in a mass of languages.
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Grace and dignity
Grace and dignity
For anyone looking in on cycling there are multiple obsessions that must appear odd. Perhaps one of the oddest is that around socks. The sports governing body (the UCI) goes so far as to mandate length. While roadies would never dream of wearing socks that did not compliment their kit.
But even socks have a role in the very human stories that lie at the heart of cycling. At the world champs in Belgium we were privileged to witness a fantastic win by the Italian Elisa Balsamo. While simultaneously sharing the pain of Marianne Vos who was denied the victory.
It is the small acts that make the real heroes. David Miller observed on the Never Strays Far podcast that it was just such an act by Vos that illustrates the depth of character of our greatest heroes.
While waiting to be presented on the podium Vos reportedly bent down and straightened Balsamo’s socks ensuring that she looked her best for the assembled crowds and photographers that would capture the moment in perpetuity.
Balsamo deserved her win. But Vos, who moments earlier had been visibly distraught at her loss, through a small act of courage showed why she is such a respected rider, ensuring the dignity of another.