Belt Drive Betty's Blog

A ride of memories

Belt Drive 0 Community, Grande Prairie, riding community 7:17 AM

After yesterday's very moving service for Ray Seely here in Grande Prairie yesterday, I came home to find that hubby was in to trying to ride. 
 
We had wanted to go last weekend but circumstances prevented it. 
 
So we saddled up and went to Sexsmith for a late lunch. 
 
For me the ride was a memorial. The whole time I was remembering the faces of people who have gone before me. My dad, my grand parents, and so very many friends. 
 
I wasn't sad, I wasn't down, I was just remembering. Remembering all of the happy times. 
 
Hubby enjoyed the ride even though his legs were not happy. You could see it in his eyes. 
His soul was happy. I haven't seen that look of rapture in is eyes in quite a while. 
It did my heart so much good. It was only 50 kilometers - but it was enough for him to feel some freedom a while. I think he was remembering too. Good times... 
 
I am so grateful for the ride we shared yesterday and am looking forward to many more. 
My husband in my best friend and a good man and I was so happy to see the bike hole in his heart get filled up! 
 
In other news our classified section has been reinstalled and is now working and ready for your ads. Our cook book is ready for your recipes and Ali has a whole host of little things she is fine tuning. When you have a moment, log in to<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/"> www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> and come check it all out! We'd love to have you visit and contribute! 
 
If you are lucky enough to be riding today, please take a walk around that iron steed, stay hydrated, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and please, use respect with that right hand. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

A ride of memories

Belt Drive 0 Community, Grande Prairie, riding community 7:17 AM

After yesterday's very moving service for Ray Seely here in Grande Prairie yesterday, I came home to find that hubby was in to trying to ride. We had wanted to go last weekend but circumstances prevented it. So we saddled up and went to Sexsmith for … Read more »

08Aug2009

Saying Good Bye is NEVER Easy

Belt Drive 0 Motorcycle Community, riding community 5:27 AM

Today we say good bye to Ray Seely. 
 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/news--events/on/1811-crash-leaves-motorcycle-driver-dead-">Ray was killed</a> when a vehicle crossed the centre line, struck a pick up and bounced and hit Ray, just narrowly missing his riding partner ahead of him. 
 
This morning, there is an article in the news feeds where in an <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/news--events/on/1811-crash-leaves-motorcycle-driver-dead-">18 year old rider was killed</a> when a young woman failed to stop at a stop sign. 
 
We have all had to say good bye to members of our community who have died as a result of a motorcycle accident. It hurts. Saying good bye is never easy. 
 
There isn't a rider out there that doesn't look at their own mortality when they hear that a fellow rider has gone down. 
 
In many families there are non riders who would prefer that riders not ride. They are scared of the risks, hence why they don't ride. Hence why they would rather you hang up your helmet. 
 
The sad fact is, every day here in Canada and in motorcycle communities right around the world, we loose members of our community primarily due to careless/inexperienced driving, either on the part of the rider, or the auto driver. 
 
Both of the riders above would probably be sharing breakfast with their families today had the automobile drivers in question been more attentive. Not enough drivers give the respect due to the 2,000+ lbs vehicle they are in command of. A vehicle driven in a reckless or careless fashion is a weapon that can kill, just as surely as a gun. 
 
I do not know why the driver in Ray's incident crossed the centre line. Tired? Drunk? Having a heart attack...if either of the first two are involved - that would be careless driving. 
 
I also don't know why the young gal in the second incident failed to stop at a stop sign. Was she texting? On her cell, doing her makeup? Did she look down for a second? 
 
Most people who ride motorcycles also drive vehicles. Have you ever gotten in your car and used your cell phone? I know I have. (It is a practice that I have stopped, but I have in the past been guilty and lucky.) 
 
Now a days, when I am in vehicles with my riding friends in particular and their phones ring, I do my best to snap it up before they can and answer for them and relay messages. 
 
I get some pretty surprised looks let me tell you, but I tell them right straight - have you ever bitched about drivers on their cells when you are on your bike? 
 
I ask them, how would you feel if you wiped out a fellow rider because you were on your cell? 
How can you complain about the practice if you yourself are guilty of it? 
 
How can we get motorists to take safety seriously if you as rider & motorist won't.... 
 
Today's question is this: 
 
What "Activity" or "Busy-ness" are you guilty of partaking in, in your vehicle, that you detest in others when you are on your motorcycle? 
 
Here are some suggestions: 
Eat and drink beverages? 
Change CD's? 
Use your cell? 
Read a map? 
Read a book? 
Scold a child - and take your eyes off the road? 
Have road rage? 
Tail Gate? 
Weave in and out of traffic? 
Speed 
Changed clothes? 
Had sex? 
Texting? 
Drinking? 
 
For the ladies: 
Have you ever done your make up while driving? 
 
In other news, our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/garyscookbook/">on line cook book </a>is now open for your favorite recipes - I love good food and am always on the look out for good, and these days, easy recipes, help a gal out here, it's easy to add a recipe! 
 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/classifieds">Our classifieds ad section</a> has been fixed and is now ready for you to sell your bikes, vehicles, house etc...they are free for all of our members - so if you aren't a member on <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> - today would be a great day to join! 
 
If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please take a walk around that iron steed, stay hydrated, ride like everyone around you is blind, and PLEASE, use respect with that throttle hand. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Saying Good Bye is NEVER Easy

Belt Drive 0 Motorcycle Community, riding community 5:27 AM

Today we say good bye to Ray Seely. Ray was killed when a vehicle crossed the centre line, struck a pick up and bounced and hit Ray, just narrowly missing his riding partner ahead of him. This morning, there is an article in the news feeds where in a… Read more »

07Aug2009

Computers and emails - safety issues that affect us all

Belt Drive 0 Community, Rider Safety 5:02 AM

For many of us a computer has become an important tool. 
We use it to research stuff, conduct business, do banking and to communicate with work/business, family and friends. 
 
As wonderful as these tools are, there are many dangers connected to computers and to emails. 
 
For example, recently, someone sent some slanderous, anonymous emails to many people who write for the newspaper. They used what is called a proxy and a page washer (allows them to remove their IP address effectively hiding themselves) to send these nasty pieces. Beyond that information, the only thing with regard to identity our web host can only tell us with any certaintly, is that a hotmail account was used. 
 
Now for me, the fortunate thing is that everyone who got the email, sent me copies and expressed their deep regret that someone would stoop so low. Some of them even tried to send rather angry emails back to the person, however the email address was a made up one and of course came back (bounced) as undeliverable. These emails were sent via the contact us page on our web site. 
 
Then there was a particularly rude message sent to me, personally. 
Upon investigation it was discovered that the only way to find out definitively who did these despicable things was to get the RCMP involved. Only with a subpoena are the companies that provide page washing services or Internet communication services compelled to release information. Needing a subpoena, from what I understand, requires a criminal charge be laid. 
 
So to get to the bottom of who is sending vicious, nasty emails about me to others required me to go and get a case file opened. 
 
Slander on the Internet is a frequent occurrence because people can, if they are savvy enough, find ways to hide that allow them to spew whatever filth they want to dish out and very seldom does anyone go to the trouble and lengths of rooting them out, why? It's a tough, tough, long and potentially costy process. 
 
Then there are emails that contain Viruses and Trojans. I know of a group of people who are all connected to me and each other, they got a Trojan sent to them by a former member of their circle...that Trojan affected a number of people's computers as they did not have their anti virus running. 
 
Protecting yourself on the Internet and in emails from attacks by strangers is one thing. 
But protecting yourself from people you know or who know you and are disgruntled and have a grudge is entirely another thing. 
 
Becoming computer savvy in this day and age is vital to everyone who has a computer. Knowing email protocols like removing the email addresses and names out of emails you are forwarding to prevent spammers for accessing that information is critical but not many people seem to understand that. 
 
 
Ensuring that your anti virus programs are up to date and running, scanning your computer regularly - these things need to be done routinely, but again, there are many who do not understand that. Ensure that your anti virus programs check your emails BEFORE you open them... 
 
Reporting spam and abuses of/to your email account to the email senders hosts is a tool in preventing spam and protecting friends. Understanding how to white list an email account (accept emails you want) and how and when to black list an email account (preventing these emailsrom coming to you, ever) is important to email security. 
 
Black listing someoone has serious consequences attached to it especially for businesses like mine who send out regular emails to people who are members on our site. Getting marked as a spammer is a sure fire way to kill a business - so use caution when black listing some one. You always want to be the things you subscribe and or pay for. If you no longer wish to get something you have subscribed for either unregister from the site or unsubscribe the their news and information emails. 
 
The Internet is filled with wonderful information on protecting yourself whether you be surfing the Internet or using email. I recommend highly for those of you who are unsure and or uncomfortable using computers (or are new to them) to please, research some of the ways and means to stay safe. Mistakes you make in opening infected emails can cost you a filthy fortune. 
 
Here are some very good educational resources that may help you better protect yourself, your computer and your information, not to mention your friends and families: 
 
<a href="http://www.wiredsafety.org/safety/email_safety/index.html">http://www.wiredsafety.org/safety/email_safety/index.html</a> 
 
<a href="http://secure.lynbrook.k12.ny.us/south/Home/Student%20Resources/InternetSafetyTips.htm">http://secure.lynbrook.k12.ny.us/south/Home/Student%20Resources/InternetSafetyTips.htm</a> 
 
<a href="http://www.safecanada.ca/topic_e.asp?category=3">http://www.safecanada.ca/topic_e.asp?category=3</a> 
 
<a href="http://www.spamlaws.com/reporting-spam.html">http://www.spamlaws.com/reporting-spam.html</a> 
 
If you are lucky enough to be riding today, take a walk around that iron steed, stay hydrated use respect with that right hand, and PLEASE ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you - stay safe. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Computers and emails - safety issues that affect us all

Belt Drive 0 Community, Rider Safety 5:02 AM

For many of us a computer has become an important tool. We use it to research stuff, conduct business, do banking and to communicate with work/business, family and friends. As wonderful as these tools are, there are many dangers connected to computer… Read more »

06Aug2009

YoutubeProofa

Belt Drive 0 Community 5:30 PM

YoutubeProofa

Belt Drive 0 Community 5:30 PM

Our Dice run to Peace River... … Read more »

04Aug2009

Growing, learning and evolving

Belt Drive 0 Canadian Riders, Community, Motorcycle Training 5:01 AM

Like our community which is in a huge growth stage, I too am experiencing a growth, different yet similar. 
 
It is a growth of spirit and direction. 
 
I had, for a time, lost my sense of direction, purpose - I rediscovered it when I started the paper and the devastating losses I experienced in Olds, took it way again - for a while. 
 
You see when I started the newspaper 6 and a half years ago, I was a lost soul. I had been a florist, a farm girl. I loved riding horses, gardening and canning. And then I had a car accident and so much of what I thought was me - was suddenly, irrevocably gone. 
 
I had new physical limitations to learn how to get around. Some I had to learn to accept. 
Acceptance of those limitations was the hardest thing for me. 
 
I pushed my body hard trying to get it to do things that only a short time before had come naturally. As a consequence I hurt myself even further. 
 
One of the new limitations that I had the hardest time accepting was the fact that my ankles now roll over very easily. I have ZERO control over my ankles. That meant no more high heels. (As a former model, high heels were something I had plenty of.) 
 
I loved beautiful shoes. I loved the way they made my legs look. I love the way my body moved when I wore a sexy shoe. I loved the way my body moved when I was wearing a "business" pump. They were distinctly different ways of moving - it depended on the shoe and how it made me feel. 
 
The day that I finally came to accepting that I would never be able to wear high heels or gorgeous boots ever again - at least not with any degree of safety or comfort, was one of the most devastating days I had had in a while. 
 
I had this beautiful pair of Harley-Davidson knee high boots that had double front zippers. 
My foot doctor had just sentenced me to wearing ankle braces and army style riding boots for the rest of my life and I was none to pleased about it. (The Knee boots would not accommodate the braces.) 
 
I remember thinking he was an ass, although painful, I was still wearing certain boots and shoes - I can do this was my attitude. You watch me Sawbones! One day very shortly after, in an attempt to prove him wrong, I got on my old sporty, gorgeous knee boots and all - and off I went. I made it a block. 
 
The light had changed to red, I put my feet down. My left foot stepped on a rock, my ankle rolled and over bike and I went. 
 
Having a 400+ lbs sporty on top of my leg did not feel real good and neither did my ego. 
 
The driver behind me got out of his car and lifted the bike off me. I got up, my ankle was swelling and my hands were shaking. 
 
I took the bike home along with my bruised and wounded pride. 
 
I hobbled downstairs, sat with some boxes and purged my shoe closet of everything that was unsafe for me to wear. Over 300 pairs of shoes and boots...(My husband used to tease me that I was the Imelda Marcos of the north.) 
 
It was for me, a hard and emotional afternoon. As I took exquisite $4 and $500 pairs of shoes, held them, admired them for their quality and craftsmanship, and then put them in boxes to give away. I admired the $20, $50 & $100 pairs in much the same fashion. I admired them for different reasons than the expensive ones, but I admired them none the less. I remembered different functions or times when I had worn them - some made me laugh, some made me cry. 
 
In all, I gave away over $4,000 worth of foot wear that day and resigned myself to "granny" shoes. It seems that sensible and good looking do not really go hand in hand. 
 
Now I know most guys reading this blog are scratching their heads right now. What the hell does High Heels and motorcycles have in common. Nothing - But safety and vanity are really what this small sad tale is about. 
 
I have learned to appreciate my braces, orthopedic insoles and army boots. I now love the way I stride when I wear them. I appreciate that their functionality and sturdy looks are what allow me to stay on two wheels safely. I learned to be PRO my own safety and to ignore the female vanity. 
 
After the financial loss of the Olds bike show, I went through another phase of personal growth. 
 
I had to re examine why I was doing shows. I had to look at the fact that I had lost my passion and drive. I had to figure out what went wrong. 
 
I revamped the newspaper and web site, and just like the re birthing they went through - so did I. I remembered why I had started the paper. My desire to see our community, the rider community have a place to have a voice and the deep desire to see it get some respect. 
We as riders have so VERY MUCH to celebrate and there was no collective place for us to really share that sense of celebration. 
 
As I sit here today and I look back on my personal growth so far I realize how far I have come. 
 
I also realize even more, how important it is for our community, from coast to coast to coast - to communicate, share and evolve and to think about and work towards our common good. 
 
Too often we spend time complaining about change, about laws we don't like and how others perceive us. We dwell on the things that bother us instead of celebrating all of the good that there is here. 
 
The phase of growth I am in is about discovering/rediscovering that what you resist you get more of. What you celebrate you also get more of. 
 
Whatever you think about, what ever you put out there, you will get more of. 
 
If we want more laws that restrict our freedom - keep fighting them. 
If you want fewer laws that restrict become "FOR" something. 
 
If you want more denigrating comments and attitudes about our community, just keep getting angry and being offended when they come your way. If you want to be treated with respect, then give respect and when you get it - CELEBRATE IT! 
 
You see energy goes where attention flows. 
 
The war on drugs has not stopped drugs - nope - it's accelerated the use because more people are living in an awareness about drugs. 
 
I have decided to be for things I like/enjoy and to ignore and disregard as much as I am capable of, the things I don't. It's a weird place for someone in my position and yet - it's not. 
 
You see, unlike a normal mainstream newspaper, the Busted Knuckle Chronicles has become a place of celebration. It is our place as riders to celebrate our differences, our achievements our communities. 
 
While we still discuss controversial or touchy subjects, we tend to focus on being for a solution instead of just griping about things. 
 
It's an interesting time to be in the rider community. 
There are many challenges - some we have created through our own collective thoughtlessness (Loud Pipes Issues in particular), some have come from old perceptions (Bikers/Riders not being welcome in certain establishments) and others have come from our legislators who are trying to either make names for themselves or trying to get rid of a community they don't like or fear (Bill 117 in ON would be a good example - the attempt to ban kids under 14 from being allowed on motorcycles) 
 
How will we as a community face these challenges - how will we change them? 
 
By being FOR something instead of being against it, that's how. 
 
The Bikers Discount Buying Club for riders and the Bikers Doing Business Association (The BDB Club) is one way we can reduce denigration. By elevating those who work with us, who want our business we reduce the impact that those who do not like or understand us have. By celebrating those who treat us well, we find more people willing to treat us well. 
 
By being PRO rider training, awareness and motorist awareness and education we can stem the tide of deaths our community experiences because we are focusing on a solution and not the problem. 
 
Yes, we as a community are growing and evolving and it is going to be an interesting ride. 
 
So tell me, what would you like to see change in the rider community and what do we need to be for to affect that change? 
 
If you are lucky enough to be riding today, please take a walk around that iron steed, check it's oil, inspect your tires...stay hydrated, ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you and use respect with that throttle hand and the say - "Yes Mom" - LOL 
 
HAVE GREAT DAY, 
Belt Drive Betty

Growing, learning and evolving

Belt Drive 0 Canadian Riders, Community, Motorcycle Training 5:01 AM

Like our community which is in a huge growth stage, I too am experiencing a growth, different yet similar. It is a growth of spirit and direction. I had, for a time, lost my sense of direction, purpose - I rediscovered it when I started the paper and… Read more »

04Aug2009

Long weekend proves very tragic and it's not over yet.

Belt Drive 0 Community, Motorcycle Awareness, Motorcycle Training 5:41 AM

This long weekend has proved to be a very tragic one and we still have today to go. 
 
It's sad and scary to see the number of riders that have been killed or injured. 
The news feeds are just LOADED with death after death and injury accidents. 
 
A good number of these accidents appear, at least from the news feeds to be rider error. Riding too fast in corners, not enough experience or training. 
 
The rest are drivers making left hand turns. 
 
HOW do we get the message out to riders to get additional training and how do we get the message across to motorists? 
 
Shaun de Jager of <a href="http://www.roadawareness.ca/">RoadAwareness.ca</a> has some very important tips for riders on the <a href="http://www.roadawareness.ca/riders/">Riders Info</a> page on his site. 
 
Every piece of advice he offers is valid and TIMELY! 
 
Total Control Motorcycle Training by Lee Parks is being brought to Canada by Nancy Mayer of <a href="http://www.techsox.com/">Tech Sox</a>. She is finishing her instructors course and says that "I have been riding for 20 years and the training I got as an instructor has forever changed riding for me and for the better!" 
Nancy lives in Toronto. 
 
On Vancouver Island, Flo Fuhr is bringing the Ride Like a Pro course to Canada. Jerry Motorman Palladino has trained Flo and she is currently training 4 people to be a part of her team. Taking advanced rider training is one of the most important things a rider can do for themselves as part of their life long learning program. Ride like a Pro DVD's can be purchased from Jerry "Motorman" Palladino on his <a href="http://www.ridelikeapro.com/">web site.</a> Tell him I sent you and get $5 off the cost. 
 
 
In other news, our new community cook book is now live. 
You will find it under Lifestyles - <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/lifestyle/food">Food</a> 
 
Share your favorite recipe by adding it to our community cook book. 
I know that I am always on the hunt for great recipes - there's nothing I like better than good food, unless of course it's being on the highway on my bike. 
 
For those using IE 6 or 7 on our site, if you were experiencing fatal errors that would not allow your browser to open, Ali has found the offending component and removed it from the site. 
 
Apparently in her excitement over the new component that allowed us to see who was on line with their avatars showing she forgot to test it in IE. 
 
If you are still using Internet Explorer - you might want to consider either adding a secondary browser like Safari, Google Chrome or Firefox or get rid of Explorer all together. 
IE has so many problems and even their new release - IE 8 has some fatal flaws. 
 
Anyway, cross testing in all of the browsers now shows there should be no more crashing for those of you still using Internet Explorer. 
 
The newly revamped site is busy, this morning when I started work there were 98 visitors on line and as I write this there are 104! 
 
Google has been crawling our new site steadily and we are finally seeing Yahoo, MSN and Baidu crawling it as well. Our search engine rankings are improving again and that makes me a happy gal! 
 
If you are lucky enough to be riding today, please, take a walk around your iron steed before you get on, ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you, stay hydrated and PLEASE, use respect with that right hand. 
 
Belt Drive Betty

Long weekend proves very tragic and it's not over yet.