Sorry folks, we’ve been overwhelmed with demand for this trip and it is now fully booked. I’m very sorry if you missed out this time.

David Haywood

As in recent years we are organising another 2-night trip into the Scottish Borders. This year marks a return to the Auld Cross Keys Inn in Denholm (nr Hawick). The hotel provides great accommodation with excellent food for breakfast (included) and evening meals as well as being well placed for exploring the north east Borders and Northumberland.

Note this trip will replace the regular ‘First Wednesday in the Month’ Ride Out for May.

Auld Cross Keys Inn, Denholm TD9 8NU, Weds/Thurs nights 8/9th May. Twin rooms to share are available along with a (limited) number for single occupancy. Hotel costs / conditions as follows:

No deposit required – Full booking cost payable on departure.

Cancellation Conditions:

If a booking is cancelled less than 2 days before arrival then a charge equal to the full booking amount will be made. In the event of a no show or booking reduction the full cost of the booking is charged.

I’ve pre-reserved a number of rooms. If you wish to join us and in order to secure a booking, please let me know as soon as possible together with your room preference.

David Haywood

david.haywood@mac.com

0777 921 4331

Meet at Dragon Road Lorry Park, Harrogate next to ASDA with fuel available on site. 9.15 for a 9.30am start and return to Ripley at 4.30pm.

The social ride out on Sunday 18^th February is approximately 136 miles starting at Dragon Road and heads off through Timble and Silsden for breakfast at Earby. Thereafter head into the Forest of Bowland and stop for lunch at Ingleton. Continue across the Dales skirting Hawes and along the top road through Askrigg and Redmire through Leyburn (fuel stop) for a final brew stop at Constable Burton. The final leg of the route takes us through Bedale, Kirkby Malzeard and finishes at Ripley Car Park at about 4.30pm. Details of the stops are on the map picture for your reference.

Not sure what the weather will have to offer but the scenery will be a joy. If anyone wants a GPX copy of the route, please e-mail me, Derek Saunders, on ds55dcs@outlook.com

Usual caveat with the weather, if it’s grim and I decide to cancel I will post it on FB and on the HAB website before 8am on the Sunday morning so be sure to check before leaving home.

Derek Saunders (07879 470 554) ride leader. Barry Ring (07847 786 608) TEC.

First of all congratulations to Richard Smith on his IAM Test Pass.

It was clear everyone enjoyed the presentation from Julie Emmitt of BikeTrac. Julie gave us lots of great advice and information about Trackers and hard security devices. It was a good turn out for a winter meeting, 23 members attending in total.

Comments from members. “It was really well attended and a well informed meeting, Julie from BikeTrac did a fabulous job!” “Brilliant night and so well attended”. Roy Beniston, a recent purchaser of a BikeTrac tracker, was impressed to get a retrospective discount.

Any HAB members wishing to make a purchase and claim your IAM discount and 0% finance offer please contact Julie by email: Julie.emmitt@biketrac.co.uk or phone 07778 335 145.

Julie wasn’t making a hard sell, but if you interested in purchasing a bike tracker and are going to The London Bike Show this weekend, BikeTrac are exhibiting. If you make a tracker purchase at the show you can get an additional 6 months subscription discount (in addition to the 3 months IAM discount). You heard it here first. Just see Julie on the stand.

Make a date in your diary for our next HAB club meeting on Monday March 11th featuring a Touring Workshop with Ian (Alf) Garnett.

This coming Monday 12th February is our monthly Harrogate Advanced Bikes club meeting at Bilton Cricket Club starting at 7.30pm. Arrive from 7.00pm for the chance of a chat before we get going.

Julie Emmitt from BikeTrac has kindly offered to discuss security for your bike, both at home and while you are out and about. The aim is to ensure you have all the information to make the right choice for you and your individual circumstances. Julie will be answering your questions on trackers and hard security, and giving you some helpful tips and tricks.

Our usual buffet will be available after Julie’s presentation.

You can get a a flavour of what Biketrac do by visiting:

https://biketrac.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzoeuBhDqARIsAMdH14GOeboVMqBCJBBzTEZhbrqAHNN0FQFef4MWFGgVcJieOkYQr9DruL4aAl1ZEALw_wcB

Images courtesy of BikeTrac

Meet at Wetherby Wilderness car park (this is not the usual one on the Main Street!). It’s down Bridgefoot, off the mini roundabout just before the bridge and down by the riverside, LS22 6RF (What3words – quest.according.scratches.). Meet at 9.15am for 9.30am start. We are heading out through Long Marston to the York Ring Road on to the A64 roundabout, then to Elvington with a coffee stop at Rebecca’s Kitchen, YO41 4DY. Continue on to Market Weighton, Beverley and into Hornsea for lunch at Lily’s Fish and Chips, HU18 1PA.

Homeward takes us briefly along the seafront (we have to see the sea) to Skipsea! Then through the countryside to Driffield and on to the A166 towards Wetwang and Stamford Bridge, then heading north at Gate Helmsley, through the villages, finishing our route in the lay-by on the A59 just before St. James Retail Park, HG5 8PZ.

Total mileage is 131 miles. John Blanchfield will lead the ride and will be looking for a happy volunteer for TEC. Fingers crossed for the fair weather to continue until then.

GPX files available for those who wish. Email John at johnblanchfield@talktalk.net

Meeting at the Dragon Road Lorry Park HG1 5DB for our first Sunday Club Ride of 2024.  Please arrive from 9.00am for chat and pre-ride briefing before a 9.15 AM SET OFF.

The route takes us westwards on the A59 briefly stopping at the Route 59 Cafe near Bolton Bridge to pick up any HAB members wishing to join the ride there (please send me a text if you are doing so). Continuing on the A59 a taking a minor road left turn which will lead us on some back roads into Silsden. Through Silsden, straight across the the A629 to Steeton & onto another back road route into Haworth, stopping for a morning break, using the Museum car park BD22 8DS (£1 fee-use parking app for ease).

After morning break, off towards Oxenhope & Pecket Well, taking a left in the village after The Robin Hood Inn, along Ackroyd Lane & the aptly named Height Road affording spectacular views across Hebden Bridge & Mytholmroyd down in the valley. Crossing the A646 & on some back roads again leading to the B6138. Right turn onto the A58 towards Littleborough & Hollingworth Lake for lunch at The Wine Press OL15 0AZ where there is dedicated motorcycle parking & a table booked for us.

After lunch, setting off on a simpler route back home through Mytholmroyd (fuel stop), Hebden Bridge, Haworth, turning right to Cullingworth, Bingley, Menston, Otley & Farnley & finishing the ride at the Sun Inn, Norwood.

Ride leader Barry Ring. 96 Miles in total & GPX file available.

If you are planning to come along please send me a text to 07 847 786 608. Don’t let it stop you coming on the ride, but we have a lunch reservation and it would be helpful if we need to increase the numbers.

Hi Everyone,

Sorry, but due to expected bad weather this Sunday 21st, with heavy rain and strong winds I’ve decided to postpone the Ride Out until the following Sunday 28th. The current weather forecast for the 28th is sunny with light winds and temperatures of up to 10 degrees. A post will go out soon to outline the ride.

Barry

For January’s mid-week ride we’re heading for the Yorkshire Wolds.

Meeting at Morrisons Boroughbridge YO51 9UR at 09.00 for a 09.30am departure,  heading north to Topcliffe, then east through Dalton, Yearsley, Husthwaite, Hovingham & Slingsby, to Castle Howard YO60 7DA for coffee.

Now we head East to Kirkham Abbey, North Grimston & West Lutton, turning South for Sledmere & onto Seaways Cafe, Fridaythorpe YO25 9RX for lunch.

After lunch we’re west on the A166 then north for Leavening, west to Howsham & Harton, left onto the A64 for ½ mile, then right for Flaxton, Sutton on the Forest, Tollerton, Thornton Bridge, to return to Boroughbridge where our ride will finish.

Andrew will lead this 105 miler, hope that you can join us.

Tomorrow evening’s 8th January Harrogate Advanced Bikes meeting is, as usual, at the Bilton Cricket Club. Get there for a natter and a catch-up 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start.

The festive season is over, the kids have gone back to school, the days are getting longer and there also seems to be a marked increase in road traffic. A welcome coincidence then that Chris Hood, former police motorcyclist, East Yorkshire IAM and RoSPA Examiner for both cars and bikes, has kindly agreed to give up his spare time to give us a presentation about “Information and Hazards”. Some members will have met Chris before at IAM meetings and as he is a high mileage rider, marshalling cycle races and touring Europe, you may also have spotted him clocking up his mileage in Motorcycle News’s MCN5000 weekly feature, stopping for a well earned ice cream. 

Get to the meeting if you can, both associates and seasoned HAB members will find this presentation very informative.

Upcoming events: This coming Wednesday 10th Ride Out, Sunday 21st Ride Out (subject to weather conditions).

Bilton Cricket Club’s buffet will be served as usual after the presentation.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Monday.