A tragic and joyful Saturday for motorcyclists

There are reports in the news feed of three fatalities and two injuries so far this weekend.

In Ontario, one rider is dead after a crash on the 400 and 2 are dead following a crash on the 17.

In Nova Scotia a rider is in hospital following a crash on Herring Cove Road.

The Heroes Highway Ride was a resounding success in spite of a crash that saw one rider injured.

My heart breaks every time I read of a fellow rider dying or being injured.

The weekend so far has been filled with some heartwarming stories too...

In the Philippines, riders set THREE world records!

In Estonia, the largest gathering of riders in Europe is underway.

In Kitchener Ontario, the Ride for Dad raised $130,000 and 743 motorcyclists took part!

There are so many motorcycle events taking place today and I am asking everyone who rides in a group ride to please, keep a safe distance between you and the rider ahead of you, be hyper vigilant and aware.

I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook and via email:

Have a fabulous Sunday and please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and consider dressing for the slide and not the ride.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

I hate Mondays

I hate Mondays, but probably not for the same reasons most of you dislike them.

I generally love my job, helping riders find the news and information that is important to them, BUT....

Today, like every riding season Monday, the news feeds are FILLED with crashes that took place over the weekend.

Page after page of crash stories, some about dead riders, some about injured riders and some about those who got lucky.

It is my job to sift through the feeds and find the information that is pertinent to Canadians and sadly I found information on three crashes, all in Ontario.

In the first crash a rider hit and killed a dog but suffered minor injuries himself, the second article is about a lady rider in critical condition and the third article is about a rider who died.

In the case of the lady ride, an east bound pickup struck her north bound motorcycle and the driver was charged with careless driving.

In the case of the rider who died, he got into some gravel and hit the ditch.

Folks, WE riders have to become so hyper aware out there, we need to sharpen our skills.

My heart is breaking for the families of these riders.

It's not a great start to the work week and with the long weekend coming I am seriously concerned for the riding community - I beg you - PLEASE, be hyper aware of your surroundings.

Get out in a parking lot and practise your emergency stopping, make sure your tires are inflated properly and that your motorcycle is in good repair.

One other thing I would like you to consider, please: wear good gear, it might save your life, save you tons of healing time and with the condition of our roadways and so many who drive other automobiles not paying attention or being aware, isn't that little extra piece of mind worth it?

For the other news that could affect your day or life as a rider visit www.beltdrivebetty.com


Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Ontario Riders in motorcycle crashes identified

There have been 3 recent crashes in Ontario involving single motorcycles, leaving 2 people dead and one severely injured and one other crash that sees two riders with serious but non life threatening injuries.

Leamington OPP have named the man who died in a single motorcycle crash in their county as Christopher Harmston, 39 of Leamington.

The Brant County OPP have identified the man who died on Sunday in a single motorcycle crash as Kenneth Rattie, 51, of Brant County.

The third single motorcycle crash has the rider in hospital with severe injuries.

The fourth crash happened in Barrie leaving two injured riders and an 80 year old man has been charged.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of all involved and I am begging you riders to PLEASE, PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

We don't know what happened in the three single motorcycle crashes, but I encourage you all to ensure your bike is mechanically ready (neck bearings, wheel bearings and tires and their pressures should all be checked before you head out for that first rip of the season.)

I also urge every rider to please slow down, frost heaves, pot holes and other dangers like gravel, sand, railroad tracks and man hole covers can cause you to loose control of your bike.

PLEASE, be safe out there.

In other news, I have come to a decision regarding the Sturgis North Lawsuit after a lengthy talk with my husband yesterday - he wants me to stand my ground and fight. He has promised to try some different things to help him handle the stress better and I am feeling a lot better about the whole thing!

He says that if he ends up in a full blown attack, he does and he will deal with it as long as I am there to support him the way he supports me...Belly Buttons and Lint...that's what we are and we belong together!

So - bring it on Sturgis North, because we are going to prove that everything I have said, written and feel about the organizers is true and that there has been no slander, no libel!

We have a fundraiser coming up to help me raise the money I need to continue the fight and I sure hope some of you can join us on May 24th at Blackjack's Roadhouse in Nisku:

Have a great day everyone...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Two more crashes mar the beginning of riding season

Two more crashes mar the beginning of riding season, one in Regina, SK and one Barrie, ON.

The one in Barrie involved a single motorcycle and the rider had to be airlifted to Toronto.  The rider apparently lost control and went into the ditch from an off ramp.

The one in Regina involved a car and a motorcycle at an intersection. That rider went to the hospital with minor injuries and no other details are available at this time in either crash.

Our skills are rusty and we are all eager to ride after a harsh winter, but folks - extreme care has to be exercised. Drivers aren't looking for us, there are untold amounts of danger on the road like potholes from HE Double Hockey Sticks, cracks, ice, sand, gravel and people on their cell phones.

I too have been eager to get out there and have in fact been on my bike twice and while our roads here are in not too bad of shape, I had to use all of my defensive riding skills and be super aware because it was obvious that people weren't ready to see bikes and the roadways do have some terrible potholes.

I really do get the angst one feels, but please people, be hyper aware and be dressed for the slide not the ride.  If there was ever a time to be fully geared up, its now.

There are many wonderful motorcycle awareness videos being circulated in the riding community and it is my hope that people are sharing them with the non rider, just sharing in the riding community is not going to impact awareness much.

The Sturgis North Lawsuit - an Update

Now onto a little bit of personal information regarding the Sturgis North, Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen lawsuit...I read the draft of the response my attorney is sending to the above mentioned parties and while I cannot divulge the information as of yet, I will tell you that I am absolutely thrilled with my lawyer's response.

I am looking forward to actually meeting him in May when I head out to the BC Lone Wolves Show "n" Shine!  I also need to give Steve Hammer from the Summer Stomp a great big hug for agreeing to share his attorney with me because this man knows his stuff and pulls no punches - I like that!

I like that a lot!

I am truly looking forward to sharing that letter with you all when the time is right, because it does put everything into clear perspective!

I am preparing for the long haul on this and raising as much money as I can so that I can afford each lawyers bill as it come in.  If I end up raising more money than I need, I have decided that I will be donating the excess to charity.

Here are the ideas I have been kicking around...

1 - there is a little girl in Edmonton with a rare form of cancer who needs alternative therapy
2 - my good friend Doug Jenson needs an electric hospital bed as Lou Gehrig's has him deteriorating rapidly
3 - start a fund to help some of the creditors that were left behind by the parties who are suing me
4 - put the money into a park or some other service/equipment that is needed in Salmon Arm

For Ali, whose bike was just sold to build up my defense fund, I intend to help pay for her and Gator's cruise next year - their first real holiday in almost 8 years.

The need to continue raising funds, to be prepared to meet my accusers in court is vital, I cannot stop working at raising funds. But if I raise more than I need to pay the lawyer and research assistant, I want to take that money and do some good with it.

I welcome your input, after all, it is you who have been helping and supporting me.
It is your money and I feel you should have a say of where the excess, if any remains, goes.

Here are the links to the two tee shirts we are currently selling to raise some funds with:

 http://teespring.com/supportBDB4
 &
http://teespring.com/SupportBDB2

I am going to sign off by sharing this quote that was sent to my by my friend Ian on Facebook...

Wise words for anyone facing a challenge...thanks Ian!

Have a fabulous hump day and if you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please, consider dressing for the slide, not the ride.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Bike Crash on 401, Drug Bust in Saskatchewan

A Bike Crash on 401 & Drug Bust in Saskatchewan head up the headlines today

In Toronto, a 28 year old rider has serious but non life threatening injuries after coming in contact with a car and loosing control. The crash had the 401 collector lanes shut down for hours.

The towns of Mistatim, Tisdale, Arborfield  Saskatchewan  were rocked when 67 police officers swooped in on 3 bars owned by Pam and Evan Ashdown.  

Begin Quote: In three simultaneous busts in three separate towns - Mistatim, Tisdale and Arborfield - police seized 32 pounds of marijuana, two ounces of cocaine and more than $230,000 in cash. They also seized five vehicles and four homes that were allegedly involved in crime. In all, 67 officers were involved in the bust. End Quote

In Sturgis South Dakota, Noise is an issue that that town is trying to deal with.  According to the article in the  Magic Valley News the towns bar owners have worked with city council to craft noise legislation surrounding the famous Black Hills Rally.

Begin Quote: The ordinance would prohibit:

• Disruptive noise or use of sound equipment in public or outside between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.

• Operating construction equipment between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

• Operating sound equipment in a vehicle causing any disruptive noise or a vibration 20 feet from the vehicle.

If the rest of us complain about the noise of the motorcycle rally, imagine what it’s like for yearlong Sturgis residents. The proposed ordinance is in response to Sturgis residents who want the party that is the rally to tone it down in the early morning hours. End Quote

It is a super busy day in the news feeds - check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where our job is keeping you informed!

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and remember to dress for the slide, not the ride.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider