It was time for some hills yesterday and that seemed to attract a few more of us with 8 heading out from Harrogate.  Our route out to Pateley took as up past Beckwithshaw and Little Almscliffe, before John split a tyre and return home with Ben who had to go to work.  We then headed out past Menwith before the long steady climb to the top of Greenhow Hill before plummeting down into Pateley before a well earned break at the Lemon Meringue Tea Rooms.

A few of noticed a burning smell on the way down Greenhow, and soon realised it was our brake blocks taking a hammering.  After a leisurely coffee and cake stop (apart from Lyn who tucked into a Bacon and Egg sarnie) we headed towards Summerbridge and a quick detour via the new Stif Bikes shop.  Very impressed and it had a coffee bar for future reference.

We then returned to Harrogate via Dacre, Darley, Birstwith (and the delighted Meg Gate Hill) and Hampsthwaite.  It was a very enjoyable ride and good to get some good hills in the legs.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/30442255