It’s time for our AGM Monday evening meeting at Bilton Cricket Club (HG1 3DQ) starting at 7.30pm. If you are a member of Harrogate Advanced Bikes, get there if you can, and take part in the nominations of your committee or indeed get yourself involved in discussions on the future of the club. You can view the official notification sent out on March 12th and the nomination forms also sent out March 16th by clicking on the links below or go to the original messages on the website. If you’ve not been to a meeting for a while, renew your interest, it would be great to see you all, turn up on your motorcycles if you can or join the Ride-In.

How to get there and get your dinner/tea? Well it’s summertime and there is a Ride-In. Meet at The Wetherby Whaler (in Wetherby LS22 6NE) at 5.00pm for sit down fish and chips, or just turn up for the Ride-In at 6.00pm, setting off at 6.15pm for an hour’s ride around some local lanes and back to the Cricket Club in time for our AGM. It would be helpful to know if you are coming along for the fish and chips and/or the Ride-In. Text Barry on 07847 786608. Or just arrive upstairs at the Wetherby Whaler.

Starting point–Meet at Morrisons RIPON –(not Boroughbridge!) HG4 2RU-fuel available. Get there by 9.15am to leave at 9.30am after a chat and a ride briefing.

The ride goes through Masham, Middleham, Redmire, Askrigg, Garsdale and onto our COFFEE STOP – Fairfield Mill Tea Rooms, Sedburgh LA10 5LW (approx. 1hr 40.)

Back in the saddle, eastwards and then northwards towards Kirkby Stephen but nipping to Nateby and east on the B6270 all the way to Reeth DL11 6SY for LUNCH with plenty of eating places to choose from.

After a hearty lunch, continuing on the B6270 to Grinton and onto Castle Bolton, then West Burton, Grassington (Fuel stop @ 125 miles)and finishing at Stump Cross Caverns HG3 5JL. 

Approximately 130 miles in total, Peter McNulty is your Ride Leader and Peter Smith is TEC.

Following on from the presentation we had back in January from (Jez)Jeremy Hardcastle from Mental Health Motorbike, I enrolled on the Mental Health First Aid course. 

The course was held in March, over 4 evening sessions each lasting 3 1/2 hrs. The course itself was interactive with lots of practical work within group sessions covering the subject matter comprehensively.

It was extremely informative and very well run and organised. 

As a result of attending the course I am now a registered Mental Health First Aider and I am available to anyone within our group who may wish to discuss any mental health matter.

All conversations will of course be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Colin Fairburn

We’ll meet in Ripley village HG3 3AX with plenty of fuel at 9.15am for a 9.30am depart, heading west for Threshfield, north to Arncliffe and over the tops to Settle Market Place BD24 9ED for coffee break. BRING A DISC FOR FREE PARKING.

Suitably refreshed we head north, crossing the Ribble at Stainforth Force and on to Austwick, Gressingham and Caton. Southwards to Quernmore and then east through the Trough for lunch at The Riverbank Tearooms, Slaidburn BB7 3ES

After lunch we’re eastwards via Bolton by Bowland, Nappa, Gargrave and Broughton where we join the A59 for a short run to the Route 59 cafe, BD23 6AF where our 120 mile ride will finish. 

Andrew Pratt is leading this one, with David Haywood on TEC duty and we hope you can join us for what promises to be a great day out.

Our Route is here:- https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/route/10786277?mode=share

At the upcoming AGM on Monday 14th April we will be voting in the Officers and Committee Members for the coming year.

OFFICERS

We currently have a nomination for the Chair of Richard Stembrowicz

We currently have a nomination for the Treasurer of Paul Dresser

We do not currently have a nomination for the Secretary as Peter McNulty is stepping down after nearly 6 years of service. Please let me know if you would like to be nominated for this position.

Committee Members

We have a new committee member nomination for Martyn Hanson to join the committee.

Please send any nominations to Secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk

Notice is hereby given  by order of the group committee that the Annual General Meeting of Harrogate Advanced Bikes will be held 7.30 PM on Monday 14^th April at Bilton Cricket Club, Bilton Lane, Harrogate to enable the committee to present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 2024 for approval of the group members and to conduct an election.

Committee Nomination form

Nominations are invited from Full group Members to stand for the committee. The nominee must be willing to stand for the Committee and sign the nomination form. By signing the nomination form the nominee is affirming his/her ability and intention if elected, to attend the meetings regularly.

Note: You may not stand for the committee if the law debars you from being a charity trustee.

Only full group members may nominate Committee Members or be nominated as Committee Members

This nomination paper must be returned to the group secretary (secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk) in advance of the AGM. All officers and one third of all other committee members must retire annually by rotation and may offer themselves for re-election by Full Group Members. Those elected become full group trustees.

Officers

Committee Members

HAB members will be aware that in the UK we have confusing arrangements for motorcycle use in bus lanes. At the moment we don’t have any bus lanes in Harrogate but it looks like we might be getting one. Motorcycle use of bus lanes isn’t universal though. York has bus lanes and it’s okay to use them where signs permit. In parts of Leeds there is some use of bus lanes allowed. London allows motorcycle use in bus lanes where signs permit. In Bradford it’s now okay. It’s all very confusing.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

A petition have been started by Colin Brown of the Motorcycle action Group and is endorsed by Nick Lyes, IAM RoadSmart Policy and Standard Director.

MAG’s take on this: “The overwhelming a majority of individual responses to the consultation were in favour of allowing motorcycle access. We believe that large amounts of real-world evidence proves the policy is safe with over 55 local authorities allowing motorcycle access to approximately half of the nation’s bus lanes by length. Our view is that a default policy does not erode the authority to make local decisions”.

If you agree that a default use of bus lanes by motorcycles is a good thing, potentially reducing congestion, pollution and journey times. You can add your name to the petition by clicking on the link below:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/712763

If you agree then please share with fellow motorcyclists or even four wheeled motorists.

Paul Dresser

Meeting at Morrisons supermarket car park, Boroughbridge (YO51 9UR). Sunday 16th March at 9.15am for a 9.30am start. Fuel, a coffee and a toilet available. After a pre-ride briefing we head eastwards towards the Howardian Hills, taking in Easingwold, Bransby, Hovingham, Amotherby and Kirkby Misperton on the way to our morning break at the NY500 Cafe and motoring event centre (YO18 8EA) 36 miles.

After a coffee and possibly a bacon butty, onwards through Rosedale Abbey, Blakey Ridge, Castleton, Commondale, Kildale, Stokesley, Chop Gate and to nearby Lord Stones Country Park Cafe (TS9 7JH) for a welcome lunch. 45 miles.

After a hearty lunch, jack up your suspension, it’s off to Carlton-in Cleveland, Ellerbeck, Northallerton (fuel option if necessary at ASDA), Yafforth, Great Langton, Scorton, Catterick Racecourse, Tunstall, Bardon Moor, Bellerby, Leyburn, Middleham, Masham, Ripon and finishing in Ripley (HG3 3AX). 70 miles.

Ride Leader Andrew (Deej) Di-Giorgio, TEC Bob Hill.

Fantastic day out, there’s something for everyone in this 151 mile spring ride. Click on or Paste the file below into your browser to view the route.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1WcNovBLC0oZKh54Jg8PtDZ0yJwGVm38&hl=en_GB&ll=54.23930614359765%2C-1.320137513483095&z=10

See you at Morrisons on Sunday 16th March. Any questions or comments please use the “Leave a Reply” box below or come to Monday evening’s HAB meeting at Bilton Cricket Club.

Good afternoon all,

I just wanted to remind you that the Annual Club Dinner will be held at Sasso Italian Restaurant at 17:30 on Saturday 29th March. The address is 8-10 Princes Square, Harrogate HG1 1LX

Food pre-orders are required and need to be with me no later than Friday 21st March please. Email your pre-orders to me at secretary@harrogateadvancedbikes.co.uk

Please browse the menus by clicking on the ‘Our Menus’ link below.

We have a private function room which can accommodate a maximum of 26 people. This event is open to all club members, including partners on a first come first served basis.

Kind regards

Peter McNulty

Club Secretary

Our speaker for this coming Monday evening’s Meeting at Bilton Cricket Club has been arranged by John Blanchfield. Mike Bevington is coming to give his talk entitled ‘Halcyon Days in Oman 1957 -1958′ and covers his experience working for the Oman Defence Force during that period. 

“After spending a couple of months in Bahrain, I volunteered to go to Oman as part of a 4-man secret communications unit to assist the Muscat and Oman Scouts, later known as the Oman Defence Force. Following a brief return to Bahrain, I returned to Oman with the promise of being involved in immediate action. Initially we were based in the Scouts HQ just outside Muscat, but then we set off with our objective of retaking the city of Nizwa the original capital of Oman. It was an exciting journey. I was involved in the communications with Bahrain, RAF Sharjah and acting as a relay with the frigates in the Gulf and also air support, directing the aircraft onto their targets.”

“I have always thought of this period of my life as one of the most exciting and interesting time, particularly at nineteen and a half years old.”

Mike Bevington.

Sounds absolutely fascinating so please come along and welcome Mike to our meeting.

Please get there for 7.15pm with a 7.30pm meeting start.