History
The Great Ayton and Stokesley Biking and Guzzlng Society (GASBAGS) was formed on June 12th in 1990 just before the first major ride of just over 100 miles in a day by the founder members Jeff King, Mike Newton, Ray Turner and Ray Vamplew, with the route being: from Great Ayton to Whitby, Scarborough, Helmsley and returning to Great Ayton.
For the first 10 years GASBAGS was a men-only group with an AGM being held in a pub to discuss the next year’s events with many pints being downed and each member making a short speech on issues as diverse as “Why cycling should be part of the National Curriculum” and “The art of drinking in the Buck Inn”. The treasurer gave a treasurer’s report which was always amusing as we had no income and no outgoings. Small things amuse small drunken minds!
In 1999 the AGM voted in women and from that point on AGM’s stopped, as we now talked about any issues in the pubs after the rides.
Membership
GASBAGS was started by a few friends who lived in Great Ayton and Stokesley. The membership has grown mainly by people who were friends of friends, and family members. Our difficulty has been more in acquiring like-minded new members than by turning prospective members away - in fact no-one who has asked to cycle with us has been turned away. There are not a lot of people locally who cycle out on an evening, have a few drinks, and sometimes cycle home in the dark - we actually aim to complete our return route in the daylight if possible. We would hope to adopt a philosophy of "A friend is a stranger that you have not yet met". However we are not like the Cycle Touring Club (CTC) which is obligated to accept new members. There would be situations where there might be concerns e.g. too many applicants at once. We aim to make any new members very welcome.
Officer Roles
A few of the roles include responsibilities, for example:
- Lead Organiser
- Annual Dinner Organiser
- Thursday Rides Organiser
- Sunday Rides Organiser
In order that no-one feels left out all other members are allocated a role based upon something appropriate that has been learnt about the member. A few members have taken their roles very seriously. Catherine, as Flatulence Controller (as her husband is renowned for much wind), made a special box to collect money every time someone let off wind or swore. Naoko became the Bike Injury Consultant after breaking both her elbows when cycling - at different times. Malcolm became the Punctured Lung Advisor after falling off his bike coming down Carlton Bank on an Xmas Eve Ride - very lucky to be alive! Jeff became the 'Ideas Man' as the has plenty of which some are adopted.
Routes, Pubs & Cafes
The area around Great Ayton and Stokesley is known as GASBAGS Land, and one day, who knows, may appear on maps - especially as one of our members is retired from the Ordnance Survey organisation. The area extends as far west as Richmond/Reeth, as far south as York, as far east as the coast (Saltburn, Whitby, Scarborough), and as far north as Hartlepool. All our weekly rides are confined within this area.
- Cycling west - mainly flat out to Appleton Wiske, Northallerton, or Richmond
- Cycling east - the hills of the North Yorkshire Moors and the villages of Commondale, Castleton and Danby, and seaside resort Saltburn
- Cycling north - the bike tracks through Middlesbrough and Stockton, and trips to the Saltholme Bird Sanctuary
- Cycling south - the hills going through Helmsley, Hawnby and Osmotherley
Our favourite cafes include Rusty Bike at Swainby, Roots at East Rounton, Lord Stones above Carlton, Fletcher's Farm at Little Ayton, Danby Bakery, Kirklevington Prison, a seaside cafe at Saltburn, Dudley Arms 1756 cafe.
Our favourite pubs include the Blackwell Ox at Carlton, The Mill at Stokesley, and the Royal Oak at Great Ayton.
Thursday Evening Rides
Thursday Evening Rides used to be the main weekly ride of GASBAGS, with an agreed list of rides. However, this has evolved into a social occasion with a ride to a local pub.
Sunday Morning Rides
We aim to have a ride at the weekend, normally on a Sunday morning, with the route being sent out by the organiser. We normally stop at a cafe with the ride distance being about 30 miles.
Annual Rides
We have had annual rides every year since GASBAGS was formed. For the first 10 years these rides were men-only. For a time after women joined GASBAGS there were two annual rides, a men’s only ride and a mixed ride – as one male member, who once drank 16 pints in a day on a ride, was especially keen to just cycle with men. Since 2003 there has only been a mixed ride. Towards the end of each year the Annual Rides Organiser asks for ideas about the next year’s annual ride, and then arranges a meeting of anyone interested. The options are debated and then voted on – everyone who intends to come on the ride has an equal vote. A sub-committee is formed to establish more detail then everyone is allocated jobs either to work out the route, book some of the accommodation, or book transport etc.
The GASBAGS Annual rides including a few more major rides:
- 1990 The Scarborough 100 (23-Sept)
- 1991 Tan Hill
- 1992 Coast to Coast
- 1993 Scarborough
- 1994 Coast to Coast
- 1995 Kettlewell
- 1996 Southport
- 1997 Scotland
- 1998 Bamborough
- 1999 Scotland
- 2000 Coast to Coast
- 2000 Scarborough
- 2001 Scotland
- 2001 Lincoln
- 2002 Isle of Mull
- 2002 Beverley
- 2003 Dumfries & Galloway
- 2003 Buxton
- 2003 Scarborough
- 2003 The Zoe 100 & 4 Acolytes
- 2003 Suffolk
- 2004 The Greenhalgh 152
- 2004 The Zoe 100 & 5 Acolytes
- 2004 North Wales
- 2004 The Tour through Twinned Towns
- 2005 Isle of Skye
- 2006 Holland
- 2007 Yorkshire Dales
- 2008 Girona, Spain
- 2009 Scotland
- 2010 Trans Pennine Way
- 2010 The Outer Hebrides
- 2010 The Jess 100 to Tan Hill
- 2011 The Way of the Roses
- 2011 Prague-Vienna Greenway
- 2012 South Wales - The Celtic Trail
- 2012 The Alps - joint CTC & GASBAGS
- 2013 Andalucía - joint CTC & GASBAGS
- 2013 3 Rivers in Germany
- 2013 Tour de Menorca - joint CTC & GASBAGS
- 2014 Majorca - joint CTC & GASBAGS
- 2014 Canal du Midi
- 2015 Sardinia
- 2016 Croatian islands
- 2017 Menorca
- 2018 Galway
- 2019 Salento, Italy
- 2022 Sicily, Italy
Major ride bikers
| 1990 | The Scarborough 100 | Jeff, Mike, Ray T, RayV |
| 1991 | Tan Hill | Jeff, Jim, Mike, RayT |
| 1992 | Coast to Coast (Morecambe Bay to Saltburn) | Jeff, Jim, Mike, Neil, RayT, RayV, Rennie |
| 1993 | Scarborough | Jeff, Jim, Mike, Peter, RayT, RayV |
| 1994 | Coast to Coast (St Bees to Saltburn) | Jeff, Jim, Mike, Neil, Peter, RayT, RayV, Rennie, Jim's dad |
| 1995 | Kettlewell | Jeff, Jim, Mike, Neil, Peter, RayV, Ben, Stu Heald |
| 1996 | Southport | Ben, Jeff, Jim, Mike, Neil, RayT, RayV, Rennie |
| 1997 | Scotland (Ardrossan, Arran, Mull of Kintyre, Isla, Bute) | Barry, Ben, Craig, Drew, Jeff, Jim, Mike, RayT, RayV, Rob |
| 1998 | Bamborough | Barry, Craig, Drew, Jeff, Jim, Mike, Peter, RayT, RayV, Stuart |
| 1999 | Scotland (Ardrossan, Arran, Mull of Kintyre, Isla, Bute) | Craig, Drew, Jim, Mike, Neil, Peter, RayT |
| 2000 | Coast to Coast | Brenda, Bridget, Craig, Emma, Glynis, Jamie, Jeff, Liz, Mike, Pam, RayV, Rennie, Roy, Zoe |
| 2000 | Scarborough | Barry, Craig, Drew, Jim, Mike, Neil, RayT, Rob |
| 2001 | Scotland | Bridget, Craig, Glynis, Jeff, Kate, Liz, Mike, Neil, Pam, Paul, Paul G, RayV, Rob, Roy, Zoe |
| 2001 | Lincoln | Alan, Drew, Jim, Mike, Neil, Peter, Roy |
| 2002 | Isle of Mull | Brenda, Bridget, Craig, Emma, Glynis, Jeff, Margaret, Mike, Neil, Pam, Paul, RayV, Roy, Zoe |
| 2002 | Beverley | Alan, Craig, Drew, Jeff, Jim, Mike, Neil, Paul Gr, Paul (Biffon), Peter St, RayV, Rob, Peter Cas, Roy |
| 2003 | Dumfries & Galloway | Becky, Bridget, Craig, Danny, Emma, Glynis, Jeff, Karen, Mike, Pam, Paul, Phil, RayV, Rob, Roy, Zoe |
| 2003 | Buxton | Drew, Jim, John, Mike, Neil, Peter C, Rob, Roy |
| 2003 | Scarborough | Bridget, Craig, David, Jeff, John, Mark, Mike, Pam, Paul (in car), Ray V, Zoe |
| 2003 | The Zoe 100 & 4 Acolytes | Craig, John, Mike, Paul H, Zoe |
| 2003 | Suffolk | Bridget, Christina, Craig, Debbie, Glynis, Mike, RayV, Roy, Steve, Zoe (non-cycling PeterC, Denise, Naoko) |
| 2004 | The Greenhalgh 152 | Paul G |
| 2004 | The Zoe 100 & 5 Acolytes | John, Mike, Paul G, Paul H, Ray T, Zoe |
| 2004 | North Wales | Becky, Brenda, Bridget, Craig, Debby, Glynis, Jeff, John, Malcolm, Mike, Naoko, Pam, PaulH, Phil, RayV, Rob, Roy, Steve, Susan, Zoe |
| 2004 | The Tour through Twinned Towns | Mike, Paul, Ray, & John Harrison |
| 2005 | Isle of Skye | Brenda, Bridget, Cath, Emma, Glynis, Jeff, John, Malcolm, Mike, Pam, PaulG, PaulH, RayT, RayV, Roy, Susan, Zoe |
| 2006 | Holland | Bev, Bridget, Jeff, John, Margaret, Mike, Naoko, Neil, Pam, PaulH, RayV, Zoe |
| 2007 | Yorkshire Dales | Brenda, Bridget, Jeff, Jessica, John, Malcolm, Mike, Naoko, Nigel, Pam, PaulH, RayT, RayV, Sue (Craig, Zoe, Amy - one night) |
| 2008 | Girona, Spain | Alec, Ann, Bridget, Jeff, Jessica, Mike, Nigel, Pam, RayV |
| 2009 | Scotland (Ardrossan, Arran, Mull of Kintyre, Isla) | Alec, Ann, Bridget, Jamie, Jeff, Jessica, John, Karen, Mike, MikeW, Naoko, Nigel, Pam, Rachel, RayT, RayV, Rob |
| 2010 | Trans Pennine Way | Mike, Naoko |
| 2010 | Outer Hebrides | Alec, Ann, Bridget, Jeff, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV |
| 2010 | The Jess 100 to Tan Hill | Jess, Mike |
| 2011 | The Way of the Roses | Mike, Naoko |
| 2011 | Prague-Vienna Greenway | Alec, Ann, Bridget, Jeff, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV |
| 2012 | South Wales - The Celtic Trail | Alec, Ann, Bridget, Jeff, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV |
| 2012 | The Alps | Alec, John, Mike, Alison (CTC), Mark Greenham (CTC), Peter Sanderson (CTC), Steve Bell (CTC), Steve Libby (CTC) |
| 2013 | Andalucia | Alec, John, Mike, Peter Sanderson (CTC), Steve Libby (CTC) |
| 2013 | 3 Rivers in Germany | Alec, Ann, Bridget, Jeff, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV, Renata |
| 2013 | Tour de Menorca | Alec, Mike, Peter Sanderson (CTC) |
| 2014 | Majorca | Alec, Jeff, Mike, Mark Greenham (CTC), Peter Sanderson (CTC) |
| 2014 | Canal du Midi | Alec, Bridget, Jeff, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV, Renata |
| 2015 | Sardinia | Alec, Bridget, Jeff, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV, Renata |
| 2016 | Croatian islands | Jeff, Mike, Naoko, Pam, Roy |
| 2017 | Menorca | Alec, Amanda, Ann, Bridget, Fiona, Jeff, John, JohnNAG, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV |
| 2018 | Galway | Alec, Barrie, Bridget, Fiona, Jeff, JohnNAG, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV |
| 2019 | Salento | Ann, Bob, Bridget, Fiona, Ian, Jeff, Mike, Naoko, Pam, RayV |
| 2022 | Sicily | Ann, Fiona, Ian, James, Jeff, Mike, Pam |
Annual Ride Itinerary Sheets
Annual Dinner
Every year we have an Annual Dinner, normally in November / December, organised by the Annual Dinner organiser, Bridget Vamplew, with help from the Lead Organiser, who acts as the host and the master of ceremonies. Numerous locations have been used for the dinner including: Jetminers in Great Broughton, Royal Oak in Great Ayton, Dog & Gunn in Potto.
Xmas Eve Ride
We have an annual Xmas Eve ride that starts at Xmas Eve Organiser's house (Mike Newton's house up to now) at 10am, with mulled wine and mince pies provided, and winds its way to the Blackwell Ox in Carlton. We always book the front room and normally have at least 20 cyclists.
Mike Newton
GASBAGS Lead Organiser
Poem by Zoe Lewis read at the GASBAGS Annual Dinner when announcing her pregnancy
AGEING GASBAGS CRISIS
There once was a young group called GASBAGS
Who all in their forties were ‘fit as’
But as the years wore on
And the aches and pains grew strong
They slowed to the pace of old grandads
With a combined age I can’t count
And an average that’s starting to mount
The rides have grown shorter
The stops have grown longer
And the guzzling is fizzling out
A crisis we fear is in hand
Father time is dribbling his sand
With no new young members
The future is in embers
However the lewis’ have a plan
New recruits are required that is clear
But hope is in hand do not fear
For drastic action has been taken
To secure the future of our gasbags nation
With a new recruit next May, coming here!
Yes a bet for fifty pounds with Paul G
That by the age of 34 pregnant I would be
Did not cause us to fret
As our planning was perfect
As 34 and 21 days I was actually.
