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.
For the meeting this coming Monday and depending on how the timing goes I have planned three topics.
The first is “Notes from the Chair “- The first six months! I am going to talk about what has been happening in my role and what your committee have been doing since I have been in post. It will cover our aims, objectives and progress as well.
So you don’t get bored with my voice, the second item is a DVD of various types of riding. It’s a long time since it was last shown and I can’t remember the specifics but I believe it covers the urban, track and off road types.
The third topic, if time allows, is Ride Out Etiquette, to be covered by myself and our Ride Out Coordinator, Barry Ring. I’m leaving the content as a bit of a mystery for now but I hope that it will be an interactive session. It is partially aimed to encourage those of you who haven’t yet led or tail ended a ride out. Don’t worry, we won’t be forcing anyone to take up these roles!
So, I hope that there will be something in the mix that appeals to most members. I will welcome questions during and after the first and last topics, so get them ready!
Just a quick note about the Wednesday social ride on 5th November. Meet at Booths car park in Ilkley at 9.15 for a 9.30am start and finishing at Ripley Ice Cream at 3.30pm. We’ll be covering approximately 125 miles so please arrive with enough fuel. Our route will take us across the Dales and Nidderdale finishing at Ripley Ice Cream at around 3.30pm.
Breakfast brew at the Queens Arms in Litton & lunch will be at the Fire Box Café in Hawes.
Waypoints, relevant postcodes and other information in the image above. If not visible clink on the link in the message.
gpx file of route – https://www.myrouteapp.com/embed/route/12311638?lang=en If you are using Garmin Drive to download to your sat nav select .gpx 1.1 (route, track, POI) and only tick Car Share Lanes & Unpaved Roads in your navigation AVOIDANCES.
Looking forward to seeing you all there for a great day out!
PLEASE NOTE: If you intend to join this social ride out and it will be your first HAB ride out, please e-mail beforehand. ds55dcs@outlook.com
I’ve reserved a table for twelve for Christmas Lunch at the Bay Horse, Great Broughton at 12.00 for 12.30 on Weds 10th December.
(Couldn’t get the first Wednesday as fully booked unfortunately).
If you would like to be included, please send me details of your menu choices from the menu attached, together with a deposit per head of £10 (needed for me to secure the booking). Bank details below.
Hopefully the weather will be kind and allow a ’short ride-in’ for those up for it; otherwise feel free to go by car.
So, if you’d like to go, let me know together with your menu choices as soon as you can and avoid disappointment!
This is a reminder about last week’s postponed Ride. It’s going ahead this Sunday so make sure you put your clocks back and wake up fresh after an extra hour of sleep tonight.
Ride Leader- Bob Hill, TEC Richard Stembrowicz.
You can view the full ride details by clicking on the link below.
Members that had the benefit of Professor Jan Billington and Doctor Ibrahim Ozturk’s excellent and very informative presentation at Monday’s meeting may wish to fill in the feedback form from Leeds University. This really helps when they are writing grants to be able to continue their work. It should only take 5 minutes. Click on the link below.
For members who couldn’t make the meeting it’s well worth a look at the presentation slides available to view in “News” on the HAB website or access via the email posted out a few days ago.
Sorry folks, it’s the pesky weather again! The general forecast for this Sunday is “heavy rain” for all the areas we are passing through or visiting and there won’t be any fun in that. The ride is postponed until next Sunday 26th and a reminder will go out next week.
