There is a motorcycle Skills Day run by the IAM at Croft Circuit near Dalton-on-Tees just off the A1 taking place on Wednesday 30th June. I had a great time when I did this day in 2019 as did a few other members from HAB. I’m booked on it again and would encourage HAB members to give it a go. It’s not an all-out track day but allows riders, with the guidance of the IAM instructors, to explore the potential of their vehicle and to improve their riding. Before and between each track session there is bitesize instruction and a debrief to assist riders to improve their skills.

When I booked my place last week there were plenty of spaces available. The cost is £149 and after experiencing the day in 2019, despite the damp weather, I would say it was excellent value for money. I did take out additional track insurance for the day as my policy did not cover it. Please check your own policy. You may be covered (Cornmarket?), or you might be with an additional premium.

The day is not limited to HAB members so if you have a biking mate not currently an IAM member this may be an excellent way to get them involved.

Some details from the IAM I have copied below, including the telephone number to book. At the bottom of this page there is a web link to take you to the appropriate section on the IAM website. Please let me know if you are going. Barry 07847 786608

https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-campaigns/skills-day

One of our riders has had to drop out, so we have one space available for this coming Wednesday’s ride.

Details of the ride available on the HAB website.

Please contact Andrew on 0747 300 5849 to secure this space.

Due to popular demand, I am doing a re-run of our 5th May Ride, on Wednesday 12th May. Start & Ride details as the earlier ride.

Currently 2 spaces left, text Andrew on 0747 300 5849 if you wish to join us.

THE RIDE

For our May second-midweek ride, we’re heading into the Forest of Bowland, for great roads, company & scenery. Meet for a 09.30 am depart, at the Old Spring Well HG3 2AP (A59 Harrogate West).

We head along the A59, then turn for Stump Cross Caverns, Threshfield, Arncliffe, then over the tops to Settle Market Place BD24 9ED where we shall stop for refreshments.

Suitably refreshed we go through Giggleswick and onto the A65 for a short way, and then turn for Wennington, & Wray.  After the village of Claughton, we turn left for the hills though Littledale and onto Quernmore, then through Scorton to our lunch stop at Applestore Café-Wyresdale Park, Scorton, PR3 1BAAs. As we are lunching outside you are welcome to bring your own if you wish.

After lunch we head east through Dunlop Bridge, Slaidburn, Wigglesworth, Nappa, Gargrave and onto Route 59 Café  BD23 6AF where our 120 mile ride will finish.

Usual drop-off system & tail-ender volunteered on the day please.

COVID-19: Please respect the current and well known by now distancing and protocol guidelines whilst socialising together.

Andrew 0747 300 5849

For our May midweek ride, we’re heading into the Forest of Bowland, for great roads, company & scenery. Meet for a 09.30 am depart, at the Old Spring Well HG3 2AP (A59 Harrogate West).

We head along the A59, then turn for Stump Cross Caverns, Threshfield, Arncliffe, then over the tops to Settle Market Place BD24 9ED where we shall stop for refreshments.

Suitably refreshed we go through Giggleswick and onto the A65 for a short way, and then turn for Wennington, & Wray.  After the village of Claughton, we turn left for the hills though Littledale and onto Quernmore, then through Scorton to our lunch stop at Applestore Café-Wyresdale Park, Scorton, PR3 1BAAs.

As we are lunching outside you are welcome to bring your own if you wish.

Hi All

Someone has dropped out of Sunday’s ride so a space is going spare.

Meeting from Ripley car park from 9.00am with a planned set off at 9.30 or sooner if all present.

For full details look up the lasting posting on the HAB website, we are heading to Saltburn-by-the-Sea, via Sutton Bank, Helmsley with a morning stop at Beadlam Grange for outside catering, The Spa Hotel for lunch, again outside, with a splendid sea view. No problem with parking at either location.

Barry is leading with Peter Smith as TEC.

Please contact Barry to book on 07847 786608

Hi All

There is now a space available on each of the Sunday Rides. One on this weekend, the 18th and the following Sunday the 25th.

Chris Armstrong will lead the ride on Sunday 18th April with Barry Ring as TEC. Six riders only as per the revived ‘rule of six’ socially distanced HAB members. We are meeting at the Ripley car park from 9.00am for a 9.30am start or sooner if everyone is ready.

Setting off we are heading to Sutton Bank and a stop near Helmsley at Beadlam Grange Farm Shop. After coffee and tea cake we head up to Stokesley on the B1257 and then the A173 past Rosebery Topping to Saltburn, stopping at The Spa Hotel for lunch at 12.30.

Suitably replete we head for home via Hutton le Hole and Thirsk to finish our first ride out of the year at Ripley for a well deserved ice cream.

The following Sunday 25th is a re-run with Barry leading the ride and Peter Smith as TEC.

Please contact Chris on 07960 116166 to book on either ride.

COVID-19: Please respect the current and well known by now distancing and protocol guidelines whilst socialising together.

Looking forward to seeing you on either ride.

Barry

Well, we have waited a long time for this, but provided our government doesn’t move the goal posts further away at the last minute, our HAB rides can re-commence after the 12th April.

Chris Armstrong will lead the ride on Sunday 18th April with Barry Ring as TEC. Six riders only as per the revived ‘rule of six’ socially distanced HAB members. We are meeting at the Ripley car park from 9.00am for a 9.30am start or sooner if everyone is ready.

Setting off we are heading to Sutton Bank and Helmsley with a stop possibly there for a take-away coffee, but firm plans for stops to be decided nearer the day. After coffee we head up to Stokesley on the B1257 and then the A173 past Rosebery Topping to Saltburn, maybe for a fish & chips lunch down by the seafront. This can only be a take-away at this moment in time, so let’s hope for decent weather. Of course bring your own refreshments if you prefer.

Suitably replete we head for home via Hutton le Hole and Thirsk to finish our first ride out of the year at Ripley for a well deserved ice cream.  There is going to be a re-run on the following Sunday 25^th with Barry leading the ride, so don’t worry about getting left out.

COVID-19: Please respect the current and well known by now distancing and protocol guidelines whilst socialising together. 

Looking forward to seeing you on one of rides. To book a space please contact Chris on 07960116166 specifying which date you prefer.

Following the necessary cancellation of the trip to the Scottish Borders in 2020 we have made an early rebooking of the event for May 2021 in the anticipation of the easing of the lockdown restrictions in Scotland.

10 single rooms are booked for 2 nights at the Auld Cross Keys, Denholm, Scottish Borders, TD9 8NU on Monday and Tuesday 24th and 25th May 2021. B&B costs are £60 per night. Journey north on Monday, trip round Borders on Tuesday, return home on Wednesday 26th May. It is important to note that the trip is still provisional and subject to the anticipated lifting of the Scottish lockdown restrictions. Travelling and socialising at the hotel may also be limited to small groups dependant on local restrictions.

Places are limited to 10 in total so if you would like to reserve a place please contact John Blanchfield to book or for further information. No deposit is required at present.

Phone John Blanchfield on 07554936868 or email johnblanchfield@talktalk.net 

Hi All

We of course are expecting 2021 should be a year of fabulous club rides but unfortunately we are faced with a slow start due to the latest government Covid-19 restrictions.

You will have seen or heard of the tier 3 upgrade for North Yorkshire and the latest full lockdown restrictions for England issued by the UK Government yesterday. Sadly as a club, through our affiliation the IAM and of course our own common sense, all IAM in person meetings including group rides will have to be postponed until such time as it is safe to start again. So sadly, official rides of six, going well since the last lockdown was lifted, are suspended until further notice.

Meeting with one person from another household for exercise outdoors is permitted. Travel to work by motorcycle is also permitted if you cannot work from home.

In the meantime please keep in touch. Use the ‘leave a reply’ at the bottom of this post or log onto our Harrogate Advanced Bikes Facebook page. Post any questions, biking stories, photos, plans for future trips, product and maintenance tips, ideas for routes for when we start up again.

We will be riding again so if you want to be pencilled in to lead a prospective spring or summer ride text or phone me on 07847 786608.

All the best

Barry

Christmas is coming and most of us are making our uniquely different plans for this festive season. Ordinarily the monthly mid-week riders would have had their Christmas lunch at the Bay Horse Inn at Great Broughton and Mike Fourie would be taking bookings for the ‘Not the Christmas Dinner ‘at The Old Spring Well. Both great social events we are having to miss this year. This year has been disappointing as we have had to limit our biking activities to stay safe and legal, though I am pleased to say our Associate training has managed to continue with our 1 to 1 system and ride-outs have been maintained though only with a maximum of 6 riders. The brighter news is, of course, the breakthrough with the COVID vaccine, which gives us a really positive outlook for the coming year not just for our biking but for life in general. If things go well we should be able to get back to more normal rides and meetings, hopefully by the middle of the year. In the meantime the Committee will watch closely the guidance from the Government and the IAM with a view to increasing our activity as soon as it becomes possible. We will continue to arrange the restricted rides and are looking at the possibility of increasing the number of rides each month to make more opportunities available. As always this is dependant upon the number and availability of ride leaders so I would once again ask for volunteers to please make contact with our ride out co-ordinator Barry Ring (07847 786608) if you can help. Assuming we are able to meet we are planning to hold a lunch/dinner mid-year to make up for those we are having to miss. So 2021 is looking like a very promising year!

I would like to wish you and your families a safe and very happy Christmas and New Year and look forward very much to getting back together again in a normal manner in 2021.