I only got back into motorcycling again in October 2019 after something like a 33 year gap. I passed my test back in Feb 1981 (age 17 yrs) and rode bike for approx. 5 years but moved away for work and needed a car for the commute – hence the gap.  So, in Oct 2019, having had the urge to get another motorcycle, I bought a BMW F800 which I kept for a year, then upgraded to the current R1250R. My other hobbies included flying light aircraft which I do from Sherburn Airfield. 

I’m looking forward to improving my riding skills with Harrogate Advanced Bikes.

Due to availability at Bilton CC and the Easter break we have changed the date of the 2022 AGM to Wednesday 27th April.

Arrive at 7.15 for a 7.30pm start.

If anyone would like to put forward a nomination, would like to join the committee or have any business they would like to discuss please let us know at secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk

Paul

The March meeting is this coming Monday the 14th at Bilton cricket club, starting 7.30.

Our guest speaker is current member Dr Richard Davidson who will be talking about his experiences as a on-scene Doctor at the IOM TT.

Unfortunately I have come down with Covid (all OK), put our Secretary, Pete McNulty has agreed to step in to host the evening.

Paul

Please see email below from York Advanced Bikes which is self explanatory.

I, along with a few others are planning to ride over and will be meeting at the |Costa at Pannal, Harrogate at 8am on Saturday. If you wish to come please let me know.

Please don’t feel like you’re missing out if you can’t make it, Bob also has arranged similar talks from examiners local to our area and who covers tests for our group. These will be publicised through the group.

You are receiving this email as an invitation to join us on the 5th March 09.00 to listen to one of our local examiners Chris Hood from Hull.

The intention for this meeting is to find out what he is actually looking for on the test and give us as observers an idea what we need to concentrate on.

Later in the year we will by inviting Dick Mcreedie from the north east to also give us his ideas on what he would like to see on test.

Please feel free to bring along any observers you may feel will benefit from these gatherings.

The meetings will be held at Squires Sherburn-in-Elmet and should last an hour.

There will be time at the end to ask any questions you may wish to have answered.

Paul Dresser, Chairman

Just a reminder that this month’s meeting is tomorrow evening with a speaker from White Knights Blood Bikers.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Paul.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by order of the Group Committee that the Annual General Meeting of ““Harrogate Advanced Bikes” will be held at Bilton Cricket Club at 7.15pm on Monday 11th April 2022

Chairman – Paul Dresser (Will Stand)
Secretary – Peter McNulty (Will Stand)
Vice Chair – Peter Smith (Will Stand)
Treasurer – Richard Stembrowicz (Will Stand)

Nominations are invited for the positions above and will be voted at the meeting. Please send all nominations to the Secretary (secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk)

Committee Members:

Chief Observer Bob Hill is willing to continue in post.
Rideout Coordinator – Barry Ring is willing to continue in post.
John Watts

The group invite members of the group to joint the committee and contribute to the running of the group. All help and input welcome.

An Agenda will be published in advance. If any members wish to bring up any specific items or any other business then we would ask that these are forwarded before the meeting to be incorporated in the agenda and floor time will be given to address the topics.

Any Questions please ask myself.

Paul Dresser, Chairman

I’m 56 years old married with two children (Robert 24, Nina 17). I was born in North Devon and grew up in Cornwall. I’ve been a motorcyclist since I was 16, my first bike was a Suzuki AP50, first real bike was a Kawasaki Z500. In my teens and early 20’s I raced in hill climb and twisty sprints in the south west of England, and also enjoyed going to watch British and Internationmal track racing championships. In the early 90’s I moved to London and started working in international newsgathering, this led me to travel extensively including periods working abroad, 2 years in Moscow where I met my wife Natasha, and 10 years in Qatar. 

In 2016 we left Qatar and moved to the Canary Islands, where my wife and daughter still live. I am working in Leeds for global sports media company DAZN as VP of Broadcast Operations managing a team of approx 100 people across our Leeds and Bangor, N.I. sites. I try to get home to see the family at least once a month, although with the pandemic this has been a challenge sometimes.

I moved from Leeds to Harrogate in October last year to be closer to the Yorkshire Dales, where I enjoy road cycling when time and weather allow. I’ve found cycling lets me to keep fit and healthy while also giving me the opportunity to spend time on two wheels which I really enjoy. I have bikes in both Harrogate and Tenerife so have become use to a lot of climbing up long and steep hills 😁

I ride a Honda CRF1000 Africa Twin which I’ve owned since 2019, I find that it’s a great allrounder and does everything I need. I use it for commuting to work as well as for day to day transport needs (no car in the UK). I joined the IAM to take my advanced riding test and also to meet like minded people so I’m looking forward to getting out with you on some group rides soon.

In a last minute change to our meeting we will be joined by Matthew Beynon-Tullet of WhiteKnights Blood Bikers to talk to them about their activities.

They are an essential service supporting the NHS and this will be the first time they have visited us. It would be good to see a good turnout for this speaker.

Dear Members.

With some downturn in infections and a more promising outlook are going to hold our indoor meetings on the 14th February and the 14th March.

It is highly likely that the 14th Feb meeting will be a social evening only with no speaker but with the chance to catch up and have a natter. Bilton will put their usual supper spread on.

Attendance is purely at your discretion but for the safety of all members we would ask that anyone attending is vaccinated and if you could take a LFT before coming we can ensure maximum safety.

We had a speaker for March and we are reaching out to see if they are still available.

Look forward to seeing you.

Paul

Due to the unprecedented rise in the Omicron variant the committee has taken the decision to suspend indoor meetings until the situation changes. For now the meeting this Monday 10th Jan is cancelled and we will review on a monthly basis.

We feel this is the most responsible course of action given the way this variant is spreading and whilst the majority of us are triple jabbed this only prevents serious illness and does not affect transmission to others.

Barry will try to maintain the ride outs so please look out for his posts, we may find that whilst the ride out can go ahead there may be some form of restrictions when gathering at stops. We will update you further.

Stay Safe

Paul Dresser