Sharp-eyed members will have realised the error on the last HAB post and for all others the correct email for the HAB secretary is: secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk
Following the post about the Christmas Quiz at our club night on the 8th December we need to get a good idea of numbers to get the food right. We have had a few replies and as Bilton Cricket Club will be organising the catering on a per head basis we will need to give them adequate notice to arrange it. We don’t wish to under- or over-cater so please let us know if you are coming. If you are intending to come, please let us know by Wednesday 3rd December at the latest and please include if you are bringing a guestalong.
Hopefully plenty of the membership will want to take part in the quiz but more than anything a chance to meet together for a fun social occasion.
Please get in touch with secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk
Our Facebook Group enables members to communicate, helps promote Harrogate Advanced Bikes to interested motorcyclists and also advising what the club has to offer if they join the IAM and HAB. Anything members publish on Facebook is also shared publicly which does have drawbacks. The intention with our new WhatsApp group is to give club members more privacy to be able to informally share and exchange information regarding club activities and other related issues, bike trips, new cafe recommendations, proposed rides, requests to lead a Ride-Out, weather warnings, road closures, attendance to club events, sales of motorcycle spares and accessories, I’m sure you get the proposed theme.
Most members will be aware they can subscribe to HAB posts, via the Harrogate Advanced Bikes Welcome page, by visiting Harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk. If any member says to you they don’t receive emails from the club please direct them to the website where they can subscribe. If you receive a post email and have a question, open the post on the website and then please leave your comment at the bottom of the page.
To join the WhatsApp group contact Barry Ring on 07847 786608 and ask to be added or indeed if you have any questions.
It’s that time of year again! The Christmas Quiz will take place on our normal meeting night at Bilton Cricket Club, starting as usual at 7.30 on the 8th of December.
Doug Masterton will be the Question Master and it will be quite a light hearted affair, with some general knowledge questions thrown in.
This year, your committee has fully supported that, as it will be more of a social occasion, all Members and Associates are very welcome to bring their wives, partners, girlfriends or significant others. Your generous Treasurer has also agreed that the group finances will stretch to Christmas themed snacks!
It is hoped that enough people will come to make up teams of four. Each of the winning members will receive a small prize and there will also be a booby prize for the unfortunate losers (sorry, but somebody has to!).
It should be a lovely occasion and I look forward to seeing as many of you as can come on the night. Please RSVP to secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.ukand let us know if you will be attending.
Sorry, my mistake, the post code for the meeting point in the post for this Sunday’s Ride-Out is incorrect. The full address for Robertshaw’s Farm Shop is 21 Gargrave Road, Skipton BD23 1UD. The original post has been corrected so please reacquaint yourselves with the details.
A HABRide-Out is taking place to the Bay Horse, Great Broughton on Weds 10th December and I’ve reserved a table for Christmas Lunch at 12.00 for 12.30.Hopefully the weather will be kind and allow a ’short ride-in’ for those up for it; otherwise feel free to go by car.Route details will follow nearer the time.
We still have capacity as we can make a booking of up to twelve and have a few places available.
If you would like to be included, please send me details of your choices from the attached menu, together with a deposit per head of £10 (needed for me to secure the booking). Bank and contact details below.
So, if you’d like to come along for this social occasion, please let me know over the next few days along with your menu choices as soon as you can and avoid disappointment!
I’ll be leading our next club Ride-Out on Sunday 23rd November and the route file is available for download below.
As a club, our shared goal must always be to raise and maintain the highest standards of riding. Many members haven’t taken an assessed ride in quite some time — and as we know, skills that aren’t refreshed tend to fade. So, here’s a question worth asking: Would you pass the Advanced test today?
To help everyone keep their riding sharp and confident, we’ve introduced a voluntary assessed ride scheme. It’s a relaxed, supportive way to ride out with one of the training team and get friendly feedback on where you might fine-tune your skills. No pressure — just an opportunity to improve, learn, and enjoy your riding even more. Link to more details: Launch of Rider Assessments for HAB Membership
The theme for our 23rd November ride is to “restart the journey” — combining a great Ride-Out with 2 or 3 practical training elements that we all know and value, but may have let slip over time.
We’ll start with a briefing (20–30 minutes) to discuss what we’ll focus on, why these techniques matter, and how to apply them safely and effectively on the road.
This is a perfect chance to enjoy a great day’s ride, reconnect with the principles that make us better and safer riders, and have some fun along the way. Hope to see as many of you as possible take part.
Just to let you know that the Just Giving appeal for Jono Doyle has raised over £3,400, which I think is fantastic!
I would like to give my thanks to all at Harrogate bikes who contributed.
Please could you circulate the attached poster with words of thanks from Jono and Aoife, to those who saw the original appeal?
Thanks again.
Fran.
Fran Thompson
Chair
Sheffield Advanced Motorcyclists
IAM Roadsmart Group No.4152
Sheffield’s story
**Update 24th October 2025. The response to this has been absolutely amazing and I‘d like to say a massive thank you to all who have contributed so far. I’ve raised the target as I think we can go further and provide more help for Jono and Aoife.**
Jonathan Doyle or Jono is not your typical dry weekend out for a mad blast biker. He moved over from Ireland to London, and rode every day in the capital. Met his lovely lady Aoife, also from Ireland and started to build a life with his life-partner and love.
Jono completed his advanced rider training with Middlesex Advanced Motorcyclists and later joined Sheffield Advanced Motorists after a move to Chesterfield. A very experienced rider, Jono met up for regular rides with mates in Sheffield, who share his love of two-wheeled freedom, and the clarity it brings. Wearing his airbag safety vest was a given.
The 12th of July 2025 saw a massive change in that life. He was out riding in the sunshine with a couple of friends and fellow bikers. After a solid, considerate ride they stopped off for the last ice-cream in Monyash. Jono headed back home to Chesterfield on his own. He was in a collision with a Range Rover. Both the bike and car went up in flames. Jono was airlifted to Sheffield Northern General Hospital Critical Care Unit, where he remained for two months. Massive injury has left him immobile from the neck down, needing a tracheostomy to breathe. Initially he communicated by blinking his left eye, one for yes two for no. He has just started using a device that allows him to spell out words using eye tracking.
Using this technology he has written a message to all at the club:
‘Hello fellow SAM members. You may have heard of my tumble. A nasty one but hope to see you all soon.’
He is currently in the spinal unit at Northern General Hospital to start his rehabilitation journey, and to prepare for the future.
Throughout this, Aoife has been his rock, his voice and his advocate, travelling from Chesterfield every day since the accident. We are asking for help and support for Jono and Aoife in this unexpected situation. We are trying to raise £3,000, to make immediate short-term and medium-term life for Jono and Aoife more tolerable. Train and bus tickets, taxi rides when it’s throwing it down with rain, drinks, food, an audio book for Jono to listen to, incidentals that mount up when you are living a transient two city life caring for a partner who is very proud, and currently not able to provide.
To every biker who sees this, look at your two wheels, your kit, helmet and boots. Then look at your family, loved ones, job, lifestyle and think how your nearest and dearest would cope if this happened to you.
We ask all bikers, this great family of riders, friends from the same love of two-wheels, to just give a bit to help Jono and Aoife to cope with their current life and any unknown future costs for expensive specialist equipment. Jono went out on that day, as we all do, to enjoy a ride with his friends, expecting to return to the safety and love of his home and continue with his life as normal, all that we take for granted and that these two amazing, strong, good people can now only dream of. Donate using the ‘Give Now‘ button, because it’s the right thing to do to help a fellow Biker.
Here I am with my 1200 Speed Twin. I have been riding for three and a half years and passed my test at the age of 59. I wasn’t allowed to have a bike when I was a kid as my parents detested them.
Then, much later, children come along and yes…..I didn’t want my kids on bikes either, so I didn’t do anything to encourage them. If they saw the Old Man on a bike, they may have wanted one. We only have the one child at home now and she’s not interested in bikes, so it’s my time!
I am now on my 8th bike and at one point owned 4. I currently have two with the second being a Panigale V2. I knew I’d enjoy bikes but they’ve absolutely captivated me; I do anything to make myself a better rider and really understand the dynamics of motorcycles; tracks, off road, knee down….you name it. Consequently, I thought the IAM would be fun, give me a challenge and hopefully come out the other side a better rider. I long since realised that motorcycles are a very tough mistress and if you’re smart, you should prepare for an endless journey of improvement. So, I’m looking forward to my training and I’ll see if I can get to the meetings and out on some rides.
It’s our monthly Harrogate Advanced Bikes meeting this evening with an official start at 7.30pm. Be there in good time to get yourself a drink and have a quick chat before we get going.
Here’s a reminder of what we will be covering during the meeting.
