All posts by Paul Dresser

Member offer from York Advanced Motorists Group.

Please find below offer from Sue, chair of the York car group.

Please note the condition at the bottom of the flyer that states the candidate must regularly carry children to qualify.

I have 2 places with funding available on our next ADC which starts on 9 September..
Would you be able to put this out to your members please?
We can now cover HG1 3 & 5 with this scheme.
Several York bikers utilised this last year…

The way it works is that they would pay £157.50 upfront to buy the course, then the full amount is refunded on completion by York treasurer – we are holding the PCC funds.

KKS-short-flyer-A4-011022

Monday evening Meeting

Hi all,

Just a reminder that there is a meeting at Bilton this evening. Unfortunately, they cannot put food on so you may want a bite before you come. There are still snacks and drinks available at the bar. We will just have a social meeting with a chance to catch up and have a natter.

Barry is leading a ride-in meeting at Ripon Marketplace, see Barry’s post for exact details.

Paul

Please welcome Damien Sullivan to the group.

I started on bikes when I was 17 – a Honda CG125, then a RE Interceptor made the same year I was born. I took it to France for a year when I left school and it was stolen on my return to England. So student life meant an old CB360 (!) before that was written off and I was bikeless for several years until 1996 when I got an early Hinckley Trident 900 swapping that for a Sprint ST in 1999. As a recent father biking became very much a part time activity and the main use was for visiting clients. In 2010 I started a business and biking took off with a succession of Triumph Tigers; a 955, 800, 1200, 900 before switching to a Ducati Multistrada V4s in early 2022.

I ride all over the UK and have made several trips to Europe, the most memorable being a solo trip to conference in Prague. 14 days on a Tiger seemed more sensible than a flight there and back

I did get Rospa training but didn’t sit the exam – Covid intervened. Then I went through the Bikemaster training with Rapid Training and finish off Level 3 in June and moved to Ripon in late 22 and decided to join a club with like interests in being the best biker one can be.

Please welcome new associate Matthew Sedgwick to the group.

So, the brief biking history;

I became hooked on motorcycles as a 13/14 year old, hammering my mate’s C90 mot failure up and down a private road in Pool. As soon as I was old enough I bought an old Honda CB125, slapped on some L plates and hit the open road (no cbt back in those days). After extensive training (provided by my mate Martin one Saturday morning), I headed off to Harrogate for my first round the block test. I say first because I didn’t realise there was a narrow ginnel between the houses. I thought I was safely away from the examiner’s beady eyes along the back straight behind the terrace, until he unexpectedly stepped out and slapped his clipboard for the emergency stop. Suffice to say, the speedway style rear wheel slide didn’t impress him much. I was ready for him on the second attempt however and passed with flying colours (in both directions).

If I haven’t missed any out, 42 years later I’m now on my 18th bike and thought it was about time I learned to ride it properly. Favourite so far, Honda CBR1000f Hurricane back in the 90s. The bike which was a bit different and wish I had kept, absolutely mint Kawasaki GT550 shaft drive.

Favourite quote, which is credited to Mark Twain I think;

“ It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

Slow Riding Workshop

Hi Everyone.

Just a reminder that Bob and Martin have put together a slow riding workshop which is tomorrow at Rufforth Gliding Club. I hope you can all join us for a fun and interactive event which starts at 9.30 Am, refreshments will be provided.

Address:

York Gliding Centre, Bradley Lane, Rufforth, York, YO23 3NA. Gliding club telephone number: 01904 738694. Number for Richard Stembrowicz: 07767 384938.

Paul

Slow Riding Workshop

Dear Members,

The Slow Riding Workshop is to take place at Rufforth Airfield on Sunday 7th May, starting at 9.30 a.m. Attendance is recommended especially for Associates and Observers but also for those advanced riders who wish to brush up their skills.

To get to the venue, directions are as follows:

York Gliding Centre, Bradley Lane, Rufforth, York, YO23 3NA. Gliding club telephone number: 01904 738694. Number for Richard Stembrowicz: 07767 384938.

From Harrogate, get to the Wetherby to York Road (B1224). Almost at the end of Rufforth village, at the small grass triangle, take the road to the right. Follow this round the S-bends and, after half a mile, there is a sign pointing left to the gliding club. Follow the track past the buildings on the right and the glider trailers on the left, to enter the car park in front of the clubhouse.

From the Leeds direction, take the A64, turning off at the slip road for Askham Bryan, Askham Richard and Rufforth. At the staggered junction turn left then right, following the road to Rufforth until the sign pointing right, to the gliding club. Follow the track past the buildings on the right and the glider trailers on the left, to enter the car park in front of the clubhouse.

Please be there to attend the airfield safety briefing at 9.30 a.m. promptly. Bacon sandwiches (with beans or tomato if wished), coffee, tea and soft drinks will be available.

Richard Stembrowicz

Slow Riding Workshop

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your committee has organised for you a Slow Riding Workshop which is designed, to improve your personal enjoyment of riding your bike.

The basic format will be a bit of fun at the beginning, the same bit of fun at the conclusion, with a few top tips in-between.  The differences between the start and finish will show your improvement.   You will perceive quite rightly that the whole event will be focussed on the attendees and it being tailored for individuals on the day, if necessary. 

The top tips will be aligned more, with everyday challenging slow riding situations that we all feel a sense of slight anxiety at, when we are presented with them.

Afterwards, we want you to feel more comfortable about riding in any circumstances, at slow speed, and with practice at every time these are presented to you, you have the confidence to ride at slow speed, out on the road or confined areas.

The target audience for the event is for all current candidates and an open invite to anyone who feels not confident at this. 

There’s a cost to hiring the venue, which is being met out of club funds.

The event will be at Rufforth Gliding Club,   more details to follow, food, drinks, postal address etc. Google maps is your friend.

Date:  Sunday 7th May 2023 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.  Stick it in your diary / on your calendar.

No silly questions  .  .  .  .  .  .  please feel free to text msg, Whats App msg, use your mobile or share a chat, face-to-face about it.   

It’s your event, not ours.   No frowning, plenty of smiling.

Change of Meeting Dates

Hi Everyone.

Just to confirm that tonight’s meeting has been rescheduled to next Monday 17th April due to the Easter Holiday. It will be a ride-in meeting and Barry will be posting arrangements to meet. We had planned for Colin Brown from MAG but they have yet to confirm. If unavailable we will have a social evening.

We have also changed the May date due to the Coronation Bank Holiday so May’s meeting will be the 15th May when we will be holding the AGM.

Paul.