Harrogate Advanced Bikes

Our November Harrogate Advanced Bikes meeting is at Bilton Cricket Club. Get there for a natter and a catch-up 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start.

The clocks changed last week, the kids have gone back to school and there also seemed to be a marked increase in road traffic. A welcome coincidence then that Chris Hood, former police motorcyclist, East Yorkshire IAM and RoSPA Examiner for both cars and bikes, has agreed to give us a presentation about “Information and Hazards”. Some members will have met Chris before at IAM meetings and as he is a high mileage rider, marshalling cycle races and touring Europe, you may also have spotted his selfies in Motorcycle News’s MCN5000 stopping for a well earned break.

Bilton Cricket Club’s buffet will be served as usual after the presentation.

Look forward to seeing you all on Monday.

Our Christmas Lunch this year will again be at the Bay Horse in Great Broughton near Stokesley.

Last year was the first time we had to abandon the official ride-in owing to wintry weather. I’m hopeful this year we can ‘do it properly ’ and once again arrive at the Bay Horse in style! If you decide to arrival on four wheels anyway of course it won’t be held against you, much.

A table has been booked for 12 noon Wednesday 6th December – earlier than other years so as to leave time to get home in reasonable light.

The pub requires meals to be pre-ordered with a deposit of £10 per person. As I’ve made the reservation, can you choose from the menu below and let me have your requirements as soon as possible, along with your deposit, so I can place the final order. Thanks!

Hope you are able to join us.

David

07 779 214 331

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Last year, 22 of our number enjoyed a rather pleasant “NTCD” at Papa’s Mediterranean Restaurant in Harrogate.

The format was simple – we asked chef Ronnie to bring us a selection of the house favourites – and not allow us to go hungry!

I think he hit the target on both counts and I believe that everyone attending thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

For that reason, we’ve elected to repeat this for 2024 and have booked the same venue, for 25 people, on the evening of Saturday February 17, 2024. Cost will be £30 per head, including gratuity.

The table is booked for 7:30 pm and I’d suggest meeting in the bar area from 7:00.

Karen & I will be away for much of January and early February so I’d like to get as much as possible arranged before we leave.

Could I therefore ask members to let me know initially:

1. If you would be interested in attending as described (Yes/No).
2. How many places would you like?
3. If you have any food allergies that I should be aware of?

Your early indication by email to peter@plus-point.co.uk  with a subject of: NTCD would be very much appreciated and enable us to get the details broadly settled before the end of November.

Many thanks, Peter & Karen Smith

Meet at Conyngham Hall Car Park, Knaresborough HG5 9AY from 09:00am for a prompt 09:30am departure.

We’ll head north through Thornton Bridge, Asenby, Topcliffe, Northallerton, Great Smeaton and Crathorne followed by a brief spell on some faster roads up to Hartlepool.

Coffee stop at Hartlepool Marina TS24 (63 miles, 2 hrs) N.B. Parking at Hartlepool Marina is £2. CARD PAYMENTS ONLY. 

After coffee we’ll be travelling around the coast for a while through some of the changing skyline of the industrial heartland of Teesside and then back to the seaside at Redcar. Then via Skelton in Cleveland, Guisborough and Great Ayton.

Stopping for lunch at the Rusty Bike Café in Swainby DL6 3EW (45 miles, 1 hr 30 min).

Returning home past Cod Beck Reservoir and through Osmotherley, Thimbleby, South Otterington, Skipton on Swale, Ripon and finishing at Ripley (via Fountains Abbey if there is still time and enthusiasm!) (37 miles, 1 hr 15 min).

In total 145 miles and approx 4 hr 45 min riding time. Geoff Hale your ride leader with David Haywood performing TEC duties.

GPX files available text your email address to 07847 78 66 08.

Meet at Ripley (Main St.) at 9.15am to depart at 9.30am.

1st Leg, Ripley-Masham-Middleham-Redmire-Askrigg-Garsdale.

Coffee stop at Fairfield Mill Tea Rooms, Sedbergh LA10 5LW (approx 1hr 40).

2nd Leg, Sedbergh-Nateby-Reeth.

Lunch at Reeth (plenty of eating places to choose from) DL11 6SY.

3rd and final Leg, Reeth-Grinton-Castle Bolton-West Burton-Grassington.

Stump Cross Cavern to Finish. HG3 5JL.

Distance-130 miles approx.

Ride Leader-Peter McNulty, TEC–Martin Pettitt.

This month we have a speaker who is a traffic officer for Highways England and will be talking about their operations across the UK Motorway Network.

There will also be a chance for a catch-up and natter and as usual Bilton’s excellent buffet. The meeting will start around 7.30pm.

Look forward to meeting you all Monday.

Paul

I began riding back in the early 80’s and passed my test in 1981. I had a Honda H100 followed by 2 Honda Superdreams – 250 and 500. My eldest Son was born in 1989 so the bike had to go!! Nappy costs were high in those days!

I then didn’t really ride much until deciding to have a go again last year…. I did a refresher course – took a few test rides and then realised I still had the bug! I purchased a 19 plate Suzuki V-Strom 1000 in April this year. Took it up to Scotland in May and had a great week in the highlands.

My latest purchase was a few weeks ago again whilst visiting Scotland. As you can see I’ve treated myself to a BMW 1250 GS Rallye TE. Love it and looking forward to some nice leisurely rides out before the winter sets in!

Meet in Ripley outside car park from 09.00 for a 09.30 start. (Charges with numberplate recognition recently introduced).

From Ripley the route heads north through Winksley to Kirkby Malzeard where we’ll turn right on back roads before turning left on the A6108 to West Tanfield. At West Tanfield the route leaves the A6108 heading straight on to Well, passing Thorp Perrow and continuing to Bedale town centre.

Coffee Stop: The North End Café, Bedale DL8 1AF.

From Bedale we head west on the A684 through Leyburn town centre to turn right then left on Moor Road and on the Whipperdale Bank over the moors then down to Grinton, turning right to Reeth. From Reeth, continue on the B6270 to Healaugh, Gunnerside, Muker and Nateby, turning left just before Kirkby Stephen to turn left on the A685. After about 1.5 miles, turn left to Ravenstonedale.

Lunch Stop: The Black Swan, Ravenstonedale CA17 4NG.

After lunch, back roads to reach the B6259 where we turn right for 1/2 mile on the A684 then left on back roads towards Cowgill to the T-junction with the B6255 where we’ll turn right, then left on the B6479 to Stainforth. At Stainforth, turn left on Goat Lane and north east to Halton Gill where we turn right and south east to Arncliffe and on to Wharfedale and the B6160. Continue down Wharfedale to the Abbey Tea Rooms at Bolton Bridge where the ride will end.

Ride Leader: David Haywood with TEC to be arranged.

Distance as described: 130 miles.

Hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you on 4th October.

David.

Meet in Ripley (HG3 3AY) from 9.00am for a 9.30am start after a ride briefing. Please arrive with a full tank of fuel. The car park is now chargeable for any vehicle after 15 minutes and enforced by cameras so use the main road to avoid paying.

This month’s ride is a trip west through The Yorkshire Dales National Park and into The Arnside and Silverdale Area of National Beauty.

Lead by Peter Germaine ably assisted by TEC Paul Holmes.

North out of Ripley on the B6165 and right turn up Scarah Bank towards Sawley. We are heading for Masham on back roads and then the A6108 (missing out Leyburn via Wensley) heading for Hawes. Morning break in Hawes (DL8 3RD) with plenty of options for a cuppa and a snack in the Market Place.

After our break, continuing westwards on the A684 towards Sedburgh. Staying on the A684 over the M6 and cutting south onto the A65 and West towards Milnthorpe and to our lunch destination in Arnside.

There is a fish & chip shop at the start of the promenade, parking along the roadside and a pub “The Albion” (LA5 0HA) with a very small car park at the other end. There are also various sandwich shops in between. Planning on staying here for about 1 hour before the ride back.

Return trip via Milnthorpe and follow the leader to Melling, Wennington, Bentham and onto the A65 towards a possible comfort break in Settle. East across Scosthrop Moor to Airton and Hetton, through Grassington and then past Stump Cross Caverns finishing our ride in Pateley Bridge car park (HG3 5BD).

Probably the last opportunity for an Evening Ride-In this summer so don’t miss Martin Pettitt leading us in from the Route 59 Cafe near Bolton Bridge, BD23 6AF. Meeting at 6.00pm and setting off at 6.15pm. A mystery, but no doubt interesting, route from Martin, getting us to our meeting at Bilton Cricket Cub for around 7.15pm.

This months meeting is a social one and we have a lot to celebrate with a recent flurry of Advanced Passes, both Associates and National Observers. Surely we still have a stash of HAB commemorative mugs somewhere!

Our planned speaker can’t make it so we are going to show one of his training videos “All The Detail-Bike Steering” by Reg Local. A discussion session afterwards followed by our sandwich and pie buffet.

See you there.