One thing I really loved about the Yorkshire cycling scene was the number of ‘cycling cafes’. My introduction to cycling came through Otley CC. The club was based on the old traditional style British club run; cycling all day Sunday from 9am to 5pm, with 2-3 cafe stops. These days I don’t seem to have time for a cafe stop, but, on a cold winter’s ride the first cafe stop was like an oasis in the desert; it was something that kept you going; often for me it was a chance to warm up my frozen toes and fingers.
The traditional morning stop would involve tea and toasted teacakes. I don’t know why but the tea and teacakes always tasted much better in a cafe than they ever did at home. A strange thing, Until I started cycling aged 15, I never drank anything except water. When I went on the club run, I was told I couldn’t drink just water and I should try some tea. And that’s how I got into drinking tea. (Shortly followed by discovering beer).
The best cafes included:
- The Dalesman Cafe in Gargrave
- The Burnsall Cafe.
- Knaesborough cafe
- Cafe in Masham.
There are many other cafes which I forget. But, the club members seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the best cafes and whether they were welcoming to cyclists.
When I moved down to Oxford I moved away from social riding and became more interested in the racing aspect. If you are doing interval training, stopping at a cafe breaks the routine. But, I would like to try and do more leisurely long rides, time permitting this summer.
I remember those club runs with great fondness.
Picture top: Burnsall, with a great cafe by the river.
sherburn in elmet (outside of leeds) was always a favourite cafe for us in Askern C C. It was our cafe to finish at after our reliablity trial (130 miles in 8 hours) it was always a wellcome sight after a hard ride,good tea and toasted tea cakes before a further long ride back to doncaster.
Why not try our exciting new Cafe and Bunkhouse in the heart of Rothbury, you will be pleasantly surprised at the friendly reception and excellent facilities
And we’ll even make you a pot of tea!
Even when I was a lad. I remember you could get a pot of tea, toasted teacake with jam for £1.20. Ay them were the days!
when i was a lad, i would take my banana sandwiches – (made by my mum the night before) on the club run. one cafe i remember near macclesfield allowed people to take their own food in!. i would supplement them with beans on toast though.
on the subject of which, i was out last sunday in nantwich and purchased one beans on toast,one egg on toast and cup of tea – £6.05 – i will have to get some bananas!