I guess we’re all feeling pretty strange as we enter the 2nd of the 3 week lockdowns not knowing how many more we must endure.  As I wander in and out of my garage to use the lawn mower, garden implements etc. I keep glancing at my bike wondering when I’ll next manage to get back on it.  I could of course go to buy some food shopping, but Yvonne (quite rightly, as usual) says I shouldn’t and we should do our food shopping online and avoid the public. I’ve given the bike a fair share of attention; oil and filter changed, chain and sprocket renewed (courtesy of Bob Hill and his angle grinder-just before lockdown) and the brakes bled.  Thermal linings now removed from my kit, washed and packed away for next winter. My Gortex suit is Nikwaxed, washed and hung out to dry.  I’m all ready for the off.

Paul, our Secretary and I recently took part in an audit of the Group’s activities with Peter Serhatlic, the IAM RoadSmart Area Service Delivery Manager, via the Zoom video app.  He commended our training and social activities, but suggested we need to be more proactive in Associate recruitment and Committee succession planning.  It was explained and accepted that this is difficult given our geography and member resource.  It would be helpful therefore, if all members could be mindful of trying to encourage recruitment among family, friends or colleagues if ever the situation arises. These matters will be discussed in detail at the next Committee meeting when our activities resume.

There is plenty of activity on our Facebook page so please share with us any of your stories about how you are coping with this lockdown. Please be assured that your Committee will be monitoring the lockdown situation and as soon as there appears to be light at the end of this long tunnel we will be making arrangements for our Associates to get on with training and also our ride leaders to take us once again into the beautiful Yorkshire countryside and maybe even beyond!

And finally on a more personal note, I recently had a birthday, my last when I could claim to be in my sixties.  I received this birthday card made by my lovely 5-year-old granddaughter.  Even she, it appears, thinks my F800 GS is too tall for me!

Stay safe.  Go out as little as possible and keep a safe distance. See you all soon.

John

Another epic ride from Andrew & Bob, we shall meet as usual at 0900 for a 0930 start at Asda Lorry Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate.

We take the A61 north to just past Ripon, then minor roads through Wath & Burneston to Bedale, then Kirkby Fleetham & onto Ellerton on Swale and the Lakeside Farm Shop and Country Café (DL10 6AP) where we can enjoy tea, coffee cakes & buns. 

After coffee, we head to Bolton on Swale, then north & east via Entercommon, Appleton Wiske, Rounton & Swainby, where we enter the North York Moors national park. Then to Osmotherley & over the moors to Hawnby, Helmsley & Beadlam Grange  YO62 7TD where we will lunch.

After a great lunch we head south west, through Wombleton, Hovingham, Crayke, Alne,  Alwark Bridge, Arkendale, and finally Ripley village where we finish our ride.

Hope you can join us on this 121 miler.

Andrew

Your Club Needs You!

Dear Full HAB Club Members

Our Sunday Ride Outs have all gone well this year, but we don’t as yet have a ride leader for March 15th or April 19th. Please volunteer if you are able to. Advice is available on the HAB website and also available from yours truly or other experienced HAB members.

Guidelines are:

Plan your route – no more than 90 minutes to morning coffee stop. Another 90 minutes (max) to lunch stop.

Keep it simple–not too many junctions. A complicated route spoils the flow.

Suss out coffee and lunch stops, can they cater for up to 20 or so riders?

Pre-ride your route with your tail ender (a volunteer tail ender can be found for you). Remember a large group will be slower than the two of you.

Ride leaders should demonstrate an advanced riding style, i.e. safe, legal and progressive, with due consideration to road conditions on the day.

Use the drop of system at all junctions, allows everyone to ride at their own pace, without bunching up.

Prepare a briefing with riders before you start, note junctions difficult to mark, fuel stops, identify leader and tail ender and make it clear that you will be obeying obey all rules of road, including speed and you expect everyone else to do so. Consider preparing a hand-out for the riders with contact numbers and locations of stops/fuel. Record the details of all riders on the ride.

Aim to finish between 16:00 and 17:00 – Choose a convenient place to end your ride (i.e. Ripley car park, Stump Cross Cafe Etc.).

Please let the Ride Out coordinator have a note of the route-a basic route with stops noted.

Above all enjoy the experience.

Please contact Barry Ring-your support would be much appreciated.

barrya.ring@gmail.com or 07847786608

The next Mid-Week ride will be on Wednesday 4th March and will be led by John Blanchfield.

Meet 9.00 am for 9.30 am start from St James Retail Park, Knaresborough HG5 8PY.

We begin by heading south to Wetherby then Tadcaster, Cawood, Stillingfleet, crossing the A19, Escrick, then SE to pick up the the A163 at North Duffield. At Bubwith we turn south to meet the A63 and head for Howden where we stop at the Waterwheel Tea Room for coffee (or tea!) DN14 7JP.

After our break continuing through Howden and east onto the B1230 to North Cave. North through Market Weighton, Bainton, Wetwang and onto Sledmere House for lunch, YO25 3XG.

The route home runs westward through North Grimston, Kirkham Priory, across the A64 through the villages to the south of the Howardian Hills, crossing the A19 and eventually also crossing the River Ouse at the Aldwark Bridge. Further west, crossing the A1 and finally onto the A59 where the ride will finish in the lay-by just before the St James Retail Park roundabout.

Total distance 126 miles.

I hope you can make it on Wednesday the 4th.

John.

Dear All

Very sorry but the May mid week 2 day ride to Northumberland and the Borders has 11 takers (bikes) which I feel is the maximum number for a long days ride. I therefore propose to take no more requests for it. I would be happy to keep a reserved list if anyone wants to be offered a place should someone drop out.

Best regards.

John

Our postponed ride will go ahead this coming Sunday. The weather forecast is reasonable with light rain showers forecast but some sunshine too as we approach our lunch venue.

The route may need modifying due to local road flooding but that will be taken care of.

Yours truly will be leading the original proposed ride as Chris and Enzo are unavailable. A volunteer tail-end Charlie would be appreciated on the day please.

Meeting at ASDA lorry park 9.00am for a 9.30am set off. If it’s wet slip into ASDA car park under cover please.

Stops are coffee at Cracoe’s Cafe, Cracoe BD23 6LA.

Lunch Cafe Cargo, Foulridge BB8 7PP.

Finish at Stump Cross Caverns HG3 5JL.

Just 104 miles in total.

For full details please look at the original post (Feb 9th).

I hope you can make it, only light rain forecast!

All the best.

Barry

Sadly due to the weather forecast for this Sunday with strong winds and rain a decision has been made to postpone the ride with a plan to re-arrange for next Sunday the 23rd.

Apologies to any riders determined to make the ride this weekend but gusty 40+ mph winds are strong enough to move a motorcycle so in the interests and for the safety of all riders discretion wins over valour on this occasion.

Best regards

Barry

Who would have thought a presentation about traffic management would be so interesting!

Our Monday evening presentation went very well with Mark and Nikki from Highways England giving us the low down on how they cope with the varied challenges they face every day keeping the traffic moving. Given the atrocious weather, a great turnout of approximately 20 HAB members and amazingly Peter Germaine came on his bike. Mark asked us pertinent questions about our expectations of their service and got a good few questions back in return. The banter was good natured-you never know when you may personally need Highways England. All very intereresting and the information just kept coming. I loved the way our presenters made a point of going around to speak to everyone after food was served. Nice touch!

Thank you very much to Mark and Nikki and of course to John for organising the presentation and Bilton Cricket Club for the excellent buffet.

Don’t leave it at that. You can access video links to Highways England by going to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC68PZJdKAzOWv0yDHqXrmZw

Barry

Chris Armstrong will lead this ride with Enzo Denti as tail ender.
Meet at Asda lorry park, Dragon Road, Harrogate from 09.00 for a 09.30 departure. We head via Ripley to Pateley Bridge, Burnsall and Linton for coffee at Cracoe’s Cafe, Cracoe BD236LA.

After coffee and buns we are off to Hetton, Gargrave, Carleton and over the top to Foulridge for lunch at Cafe Cargo BB87 PP beside the canal.

Suitably refreshed, Hellifield is next via Thornton in Craven and then on to Otterburn, Airton, Hetton, Grassington to end at Stump Cross Caverns HG35JL.

The route on well planned roads is suitably short for this time of the year with a mileage of just 104.

Hope to see you on the day.

Chris

Welcome to the Club – Howard Poulson Associate Member

“I have only been riding for 2 years. I spend quite a lot of time in Florida and I got my American bike licence first in Nov 2017 and my UK licence in Jan 2018.  In the 2 years I have had 7 bikes while I sorted out what suited me (dropping the heavier bikes a few times along the way) and currently have a BMW F750GS in the UK and a Triumph Tiger 800 in the USA.  I’ve done 3 short tours to Germany, the north of England and the Great Smokey Mountain area of the USA”.

“I’ve been retired for a few years now and previously worked turning around companies for both public and private investors. Having got over the first two years of learning to ride I am eager to improve to a better level and hence my joining HAB”.

Please say hi to Howard the next time you see him.