What is the point of Harrogate .

[postman]

Went shopping today to Spa Cycles a larger seatpost bag .Carradice carradura maxi .£15 a superb bag .But i digress.Main roads all the way .No shade and all uphill .So apart from Bettys cafe and two or three bike shops .What has Harrogate got for cyclists .Because i don't think it's on my list of places to visit .

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Hills of course they keep the riff raff out

 

[skudupnorth]

I knew Phil might have something to say about about that ! Not a bad place from what i can remember and it's nearer green hilly stuff than where i live !

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Its not for hill hating softies

I live 5 mins from the town center yet I can be out in the countryside on my bike in 10 mins.

 

[vernon]

I like Harrogate. I used to use the Turkish baths regularly until the prices went north of expensive. There's a decent chocolate shop. There's a wine merchant or two that I have used and a decent confectioner. Harlow Carr is just up the road and a mere nine miles or so away in Ripon is Appleton's, a pie shop sans pareil.

 

[Night Train]

If it wasn't for Harrogate I wouldn't be here.

My folks met and courted there back in the early 60's. My Mum worked in Betty's tea shop.

 

[vernon]

I had my wedding reception at Betty's. Gewertztraminer wine and bacon sandwiches - a very nice combo.

 

[asterix]

I'm not bothered about the hills, it's the drivers. More aggressive than York, I find and it's quite hard to find a back-road route to it. Other than that, as Vernon says in #5.

 

[MarkF]

I was at Spa too, lunchtime. The point for me is Pool Bank, a ball breaker, I love it.

 

[Bigsharn]

The entire reason for Harrogate is that it's the halfway point between the (much nicer and prettier) East Riding and the (much posher) West Riding.

 

[ColinJ]

The entire reason for Harrogate is that it's the halfway point between the (much nicer and prettier) East Riding and the (much posher) West Riding.

Keighley, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge ... posh?

 

[Campfire]

I've not cycled in Harrogate for years, although I've been there for conferences quite a few times. I used to work for the organiser of the cycle races around the streets back in the *****s - Maurice Cumberworth. We used to get to meet all the big names in the cycle racing world. Great fun and really interesting.

 

[Paladin - York]

A bit of useless information.

When I first went to work in Harrogate (1982) and for vehicle insurance purposes, it was said to have the highest number of recorded "car shunts" per head of population in the UK. When I visit Harrogate now I have a "feel good factor" 'cos I'm visibly one of the youngest looking there - so I'm told!

ps I actually had an annual appraisal in Betty's once.

 

[HelenD123]

I discovered it has a Specialized concept store last weekend. Shame I arrived 5 minutes before closing. Rather different to Spa Cycles I bet!

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I discovered it has a Specialized concept store last weekend. Shame I arrived 5 minutes before closing. Rather different to Spa Cycles I bet!

It sure does thats where I got my bike from.