Bikers are staying away in droves

New Smyrna Beach Florida, Biketoberfest...a BUST according to the news this morning.
Pub 44, which has been around as a fixture in the biker community for over 30 years had one rider on the first night. Last year was a bad year, this year it's horrible and the recession is being blamed.

In fact things have been so bad, the Pub 44 is closing it's doors after the rally and a restaurant will be taking it's place.

So, I have a question for you all...numbers are down at a lot of the major rallies south of the border, do you think it is just the economy or could a few other factors weigh in here?

I am thinking AGE...let's face it, the Harley set is getting older, and the younger ones coming up don't have the cash...

I wonder how many are tired of the same things that happen at these rallies?
I have heard a lot of negative comments on how hard booze is pushed at some of these events, that is one thing I personally do not appreciate.

I wonder if riders are looking for something different and just not finding it at these rallies...you have the same core group of vendors, the same celebrity faces...

Yes, the economy is playing it's role but I am wondering how many rally coordinators just aren't taking into account that they need to step things up with the quality of their gig - because if it is the economy, well riders will still ride but they will be very choosey as to where they go. Instead of 5-10 rallies they might choose their three favourite, which by the way is usually considered a favourite - if you event coordinators care to know - because of the time spent with their friends and the time on their machines that made the trip/weekend/event a success for them.

It seems to me that the costs at some of these rallies for the concerts etc is just becoming to pricey for many and that they are finding more enjoyment and fun at the smaller more home grown, grass roots types of events. Poker Runs and the like seem to be becoming more popular than some of these huge rallies that appear to have lost their unique flavours because of their success.

They are tired of hotel and motel room rates going through the roof, they are tired of being pick pocketed and gouged at every turn. And let's face it, look who goes to these events, how many young faces you see there?  I think age, boredom, resentment at being fleeced and the economy are all taking their toll on these events, that's my 2 bits worth.

What are your thoughts/take on this topic...I am pretty sure the conversation will be great! Join us on Facebook!

There is a ton of news in the feeds this morning at www.beltdrivebetty.com, where we sift through the news, so you don't have to!

I am on a plane in less than 2 hours, heading to the Classy Chassis Cycle Auction in Lakefield.

Hoping to see a few of you Ontarian's out there!

Have a safe weekend,
Belt Drive Betty
Editor/Rider

$160

Shirley Plourde was a well respected member of the motorcycle community in Nova Scotia.
I am confident that those who read the news today will be pleased that the woman who passed when unsafe to do so and ended up taking Shirley's life was charged. I am also confident that they will not be pleased with the $160 fine.

I want to ask you all something...when a life is taken or altered forever, because of driver error, aggression, inattention, what do you think the result should be?

I want you to look at that question as if it was YOU who made the error. It's all well and fine to call for jail and other measures but what if it was YOU that took a life, you who put someone in a wheel chair or took their ability to function normally away? What would be the right sentence? The right fine? The right restitution?

Should there just be the fine and then civil court to get funds to help the family or victim? That's the way the system works right now...

Or should there be something more?

I was speaking to a man who was involved in a one vehicle crash, someone had flipped a cigarette out of their vehicle and the cigarette got lodged in between a riders eye and his visor, causing his eyelid to be burned and him to loose control. Even with witnesses, even with the person who flipped the butt out stating he had been a dumb ass and had in fact discarded his cigarette in an inappropriate way, even with a police report that states the same thing....this man's insurer says that since there was no other vehicle involved in the crash that he is in the wrong and is refusing to help him.

I recommended a good accident injury lawyer to him and the lawyer says, guess what, your insurance company is giving you the bumb steer.

In both cases, the only way to protect one's self and in the case of Shirley Plourde - provide for her family, the only way to get the job done is through a lawyer. As a motorcyclist, one of the BEST things you can do for yourself is to consult a good accident injury lawyer - in fact, you should have a lawyer on speed dial in your cell phone.

If you are fortunate enough to survive a crash, the first person YOU should talk to is your lawyer.

The BDB Network has two great lawyers that can serve you with more coming on board soon.
In the lower mainland of BC you can call our good friend Daryl Brown, Motorcycle Lawyer. Daryl is an avid rider, a former drag racer and he understands your needs as a rider and a human. He can serve you any where in the province of BC and is a wonderful man to talk to.

The other fabulous law firm that we are connected to is Braithwaite Boyle.

Ken Braithwaite is a rider. Again he knows what you need, what you should and shouldn't do. In fact, in the Little Black Book, Ken has a card of crash facts (the link here goes to the downloaded version of the book) - something you should fill out immediately after a crash so that you can remember everything that happened. It can be left in the book, or taken out and folded and put in your insurance folder.  It is a wonderful tool in the protection game. And I have some personal experiences with this law firm - I know of some Alberta riders who have used these guys and sing their praises. A young female rider who was injured in Southern Alberta has Ken and his team as her law firm and I know for a fact that she is being well taken care of. Ken's firm can help you out in Alberta, BC, the Yukon and NWT.

No matter where you live, whether you are involved in a crash or the family of a victim, consulting with an accident injury lawyer should be one of the first things you do when you are physically able to (after being checked out by a doctor).

It sounds rather morbid, but you should know which lawyer you are going to work with BEFORE a crash happens. That will be one less thing to think of when your time comes - better to be prepared for the worst case scenario, and if you never need that lawyer all the better.

This year was a really bad year for crashes and injuries, and sadly deaths. There are a lot of people who need a good lawyer and, they aren't all that easy to find. Using the yellow pages is not necessarily the best way to find a lawyer, especially if you ride.

So, another question I want to ask you today, do you have an accident injury lawyer in your area? Have you checked out their reputation, do you know what lawyer you will use should you ever need to?
I would LOVE to know.

There is a ton of interesting news in the feeds today over at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to.

And, today is Thursday, which means paper and newsletter day. I hope you are enjoying your Busted Knuckle Chronicles and your provincial newsletter...

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone, tomorrow I am on a plane to Ontario for the Classy Chassis Cycles Auction on Saturday...hope to see some of you out there!

Ride safe if you are fortunate enough to be riding today and please ride like everyone is blind and out to get you!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Better Warning Signs for Road Hazards

How many times have you ridden your motorcycle only to come across a frost heave or crack in the road that just about unseats you but has no warning sign? How many times have you come across warning signs for heaves and cracks that didn't amount to much of anything?

What about construction zones? Have you ever ridden in a construction zone where there is a drop off that is so severe you damned near dump your bike? Or what about that lovely cross hatching - again with no warning signs?

There are road hazards and then there are man made road hazards. When the road hazards are natural like frost heaves and the department of transportation or the company looking after that stretch of road puts up a sign warning you of the heave and it proves out time after time that those heaves really aren't much of anything, the signs loose their impact.  When the road hazard is man made as is the case in construction zones, signage should be mandatory. Construction companies have a responsibility, I feel, to not only honour their contract and fix the roadway in an appropriate manner, but also to protect the motoring public by providing appropriate warning signs.

Earlier this fall, riding at dusk, almost to my destination, I came across a road repair area, I slowed to the 50 KPH that was required. I ended up experiencing a good 4 inch drop from pavement to gravel that had ZERO warning and at that time of day, the way the shadows played across the road, it was next to impossible to truly see how severe the drop was. It scared the crap out of me, and I ended up sitting on the side of the road getting jelly knees and and a queasy stomach under control.

Another pet peeve I have are pavement patches - repairs where they just slap a ton of asphalt over a pothole or crack making a hazard that again, during the right time of day will catch you so off guard as to almost unseat you.

In St John NB,  a 53 year old pastor who rides, came across a deep construction zone ridge not unlike the one I experienced earlier this season. He feels that a graduated drop shouldn't be all that hard to accomplish and he feels there should be more signage, the police however feel that there was enough signage and that he was in a construction zone and that it is up to the rider to pay attention. In this case, the motorcycle riding pastor estimates his speed at 40 KPH.  He crashed, hard and is lucky to be alive and knows it.

What seems like common sense to we riders does not appear to translate to some of the construction companies that do road repairs and maintenance...and the lack of consistency from province to province and region to region can be pretty unsettling as well.

Have you ever experienced a poor road patch or really poor signage in construction zones?
I would love to hear what your experiences have been. Sitting on the Vulnerable Road Users Committee I feel that with enough feedback from you riders I might be able to get this topic on the agenda for a future meeting to see if we can't make our roads a wee bit safer, so please, share your experiences.

In other news:

In Vernon BC, a man who crashed while test riding a motorcycle is in ICU, already under suspension as a result of a previous crash in 2008, the man, if he survives will face multiple charges. Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in his crash, he apparently was doing 150 KPH in a 50 KPH zone.

In Alberta, racers are saying goodbye to the Race City Motorsports Park

In the US, Cleveland Browns Defensive End, Marcus Benard has been charged following the crash where he broke his hand.  He apparently slammed his trike into a guardrail and has been charged for driving under suspension and reckless operation.

As usual, there is lots of information in the news feeds that may affect your day or life, check the feeds out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to!

Calling all Canadian Rider Support Network Members - we NEED you to update your information please. We had a rider who blew a tire in Wawa ON on the long weekend, he needed help and I tried calling a couple of the members only to reach "The number you have called is no longer in service" - PLEASE people, we need your information to be updated - if you move, if you change your number - PLEASE update your information. We got the rider some help, but people - it would have been faster and easier if the information on a few of the riders had been updated! To those of you who do keep your information up to date - thank you!

Have a fabulous Wednesday everyone and to those in the Lakefield ON region - hope to see you this weekend at the Classy Chassis Auction!


Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

What a tragic weekend

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the bounty and abundance that is all around us, however, it is a time of mourning for so many. I am unsure of what it is about long weekends, but it appears to me that the news, the day after a long weekend is filled with all kinds of sad and tragic news.

Motorcycle crashes abounded this past weekend and I pray for those families who have been affected that they have the strength and support that they need to get through the next while.

Ali and I have finally joined the ranks of those who use MAC computers, this last two weeks have been filled with transferring information, setting up the new systems that we working on - it's been a learning curve and a challenge but I now understand why people love their MAC's.  When Apple founder Steve Jobs passed away from pancreatic cancer last week I wanted to cry...ok I did cry. My thoughts were, why did this brilliant man who gave so much to so many have to pass? We need all of the brilliant minds we can get...

On August 24th when he resigned, I am sure the rest of the world had no idea just how ill he really was, Pancreatic cancer is one of the most painful cancers it is also the cancer that took another great from us not all that long ago, Patrick Swayze.

I found myself giving thanks for so many things this past weekend, for my health, the people I love,  my motorcycle, the technology that allows me to do the work I have chosen to do - that of helping my community communicate, stay informed and unite...the community I am a part of...I have so very much to be grateful for in spite of the sadness that is around me.

I hope and pray that you as well had lots to give thanks for and that you were able to spend time with the people you love and reach out to others less fortunate. Counting our blessings and being grateful are important things for us all to do in my humble opinion and as I said, I have so much to be thankful for.

What did you give thanks for this past weekend? I would love to know.

In other news:

I am heading to Ontario this coming weekend.
I will be attending the Classy Chassis Cycles Auction on Saturday and I can't wait to get there.
Jon Burman and his staff put on some of the best events out there and their annual auction has garnered a lot of attention and cudo's as a great way to buy a bike...and with over 70 bikes going on the auction block it should prove exciting as well. I look forward to sharing with you what makes this event special. I also look forward to meeting more riders and sharing the love of the road.

In Regina, friends and family are getting ready to say goodbye to Mark Popowich who passed away in Florida on the week end. He died of a massive heart attack.

In the US - the Brown's defensive line backer, Marcus Benard was injured in a crash this past weekend.

Also in the US, Highway 58 between Melstrand and Grand Marais has become a dangerous road to travel thanks to thousands of nails that have been intentionally put on the road.

Viet Nam vets who ride claim that they were disrespected at the Tribal Casino and the Westboro Baptis Church is at it again...

Our 5th Annual Beat the PMS Blues On Line Show 'n' Shine - is getting geared up, so get those photos of your ride ready, we begin accepting submissions in December - we'll let you know when as soon as Ali and I have everything ready.

There are only 2 and a half weeks left to get your charity calendars. Once the pre ordering is done - that's it cause I am not ordering tons of them only to get stuck with them. If you want to get yours visit the following pages:
Lady Riders
Motorcycle Men
Biker Kidz

Pre ordering ends October 31st, we go to print November 1 and start delivering Calendars mid November...don't miss out!

I will sign off for today asking you to please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and I wish you a fabulous Tuesday.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

A sad Christmas is waiting....

Shrewsbury  England is the place where Christmas is going to be far bleaker for a lot of children. Why? Due to budget cuts the police will not, claim they can not, support the toy run with an escort.

It seems to me that world wide, the police services are becoming more and more heartless.
They won't let civilians block intersections,(insurance risks don't yah know) the closed ranks do not want to allow a professional blocking course for civilians because that would take away from their paycheques and yet they will shut down an event because they can't get their double over time to block traffic.

Sad, disgusting, shocking, mind numbing, what ever negative label you want to put on it would be appropriate me thinks.

The bureaucracy is mind boggling.  25 years the toy run in Shrewsbury has been going on. Hundreds of children helped each year to have a better Christmas than they would have had without the kindness of strangers...

I have had very little respect for the police services as a whole over the last few years. Yes there are some wonderful officers and detachments and yes there are those who wear their uniform and do their job with pride, fairness and decency and then there are the bureaucrats, the ones who run things, and they disgust me as a whole. (we won't get into the way I feel about certain individual members)

In this day of budget cuts and poor economies there has never been a greater need for generosity and kindness,  and you would think that there would be one or two officers at the very least, willing to volunteer an hour or two of their time. VOLUNTEER - to GIVE back to the people who pay their paycheques, but no...either their commanding officers won't let them VOLUNTEER and use tax payer paid for police vehicles to block traffic or the police forget who employs them - who pays them...

It makes my heart sick - we almost lost our toy run here in Grande Prairie to a similar narrow minded mentality. Because we have a 1% club in town, the police penalized the rest of the community. If they are present (1%ers) we can not be seen to participate - YOU are no longer allowed to block traffic - it's too great an insurance risk.  The city's staff are so stretched with other parades through out the year that doing blockades with barriers is far to costly for them to help yet another parade...so what to do...

A compromise was finally reached where in the police provided an escort for the 20 or so blocks that the parade was allowed to be this year...As small as the parade route was this year, some 20 blocks, it was still better than no parade, by a long shot. Here in Grande Prairie, the toy run committee works all year long holding a variety of fundraisers and awareness events in an attempt to ensure that no matter how many or how few riders show up that the kids in this community and the surrounding region will have a good Christmas and feel special at least one day out of the year. The toy run is the culmination of a whole year's effort and is the final push to ensure that the kid's who need some cheer in life get it.

I see the support other communities like Whitecourt, Edson and Hinton get from their police services and fire departments, with toy runs that wind through town for a half hour and are really treated like a parade, like the special event they really are and it simply boggles my mind that Grande Prairie can only garner enough support from their counterparts here in GP to hold a 20 block parade. And yet, looking back on the alternative...the shutting down of a 33 year old event, well I'll take 20 blocks...yes, we will, and say a huge THANK YOU at the same time because at least there was compromise and dialogue a new beginning.

Let's discuss what the alternative would have meant here in Grande Prairie.  If the Toy Run was cancelled here, there would be between $25 and $30,000 less in toys that the Children's ward at the hospital, the Pregnant & Parenting Teens Group, Big Brother's & Big Sisters and the Salvation Army would have to distribute.

Let's do the math...the average price of a toy or article of clothing that is given to these organizations to distribute is $25 thanks to the huge discount Zeller's gives the Toy Run Committee - that's 1,200 toys/clothes, 1,200 children....never mind the donated toys that fill a small trailer!

I don't know the numbers in Shrewsbury England, what the toy run brings in or the costs of toys there, but let's say that the 350 riders the article alludes to supply toys to 500 kids...all for the lack of a few police officers willing to DONATE or VOLUNTEER some of their time 500 children are going to be impacted.

SHAME ON YOU.

Oh and by the way, to the Grande Prairie RCMP, the City of Grande Prairie and the Toys for Tots Committee...thank you for being willing to meet at the round table and find a compromise and I am confident right now that I can say that thanks not just from myself, but from every child and young teen that will have at least one gift under the tree...it may not be ideal, it may not have lasted for very long, but that it happened at all is an absolute blessing to so many, so THANK YOU.

And that's my 2 bits worth, what say you?

In other news:

In the US a bunch of the Vagos Motorcycle Club members were raided and arrested in California

In Quebec the Hells Angels were also raided and members were arrested.

On TV, Sons of Anarchy episode reviewed...

A rider shakes his head at drivers who pass on the right

There are many other articles of interest in the news feeds today, please check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com  if you want to know what's happening that could affect your day or impact your life...check them out!

I have been fielding some questions about the Charity Calendars and when they will be shipped out...Pre sales run until October 31st. At that time I will do a count of what is needed and I will get that many calendars printed off as I refuse to get stuck with any.  The calendars should be ready for distribution the end of the second or during the third week of November...

I sign off today wishing you a happy Friday, a great long weekend and a Happy Thanksgiving

Until Tuesday...Ride safe and be happy

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

A Motorcycle Toilet....

Clutch & Chrome Magazine in the US has a report today about a motorcycle that runs on human waste.

According to TOTO, Japan's number one toilet manufacturer, this toilet powered trike talks to you...

It plays music (I wonder if the song Beans, Beans the magical fruit, the more you eat the more you toot is the theme song?) And it also features residual light imagery to write messages in the air as it zooms by (Messages can only be seen at night)

This trike is leaving today on a 600 mile journey month-long journey from Kyushu to Tokyo, making stops along the way to show off their new innovation and to educate people on the various green initiatives that TOTO is undertaking.

The starting point is the TOTO Headquarters in Kitakyushu. It will then head to Nakatsu in Oita prefecture to pay homage to an ass-shaped boulder (do you think they might be having some fun with this?). 

From there the motorcycle will hitch a ride on a ferry to Hiroshima, then to Okayama and then to Kobe. After riding around Nara and Kyoto they will hit up Aichi, Shizuoka and then Tokyo.



I know many motorcycle manufactures, dealers and repair shops have said business is in the toilet but this sure takes that statement to a whole different level of understanding!

Now on to other news....

In Florida there are plans to open a nudist resort for a nudist motorcycle club, the Bare Buns Bikers...

In Ontario, the Northumberland toy run is set to go

In Nova Scotia they are getting ready for a Halloween themed charity ride

In BC, the RCMP are looking for witnesses to a fatal crash in Ft St John

There is a TON of stuff in the news feeds today that just might affect your life, hope you will check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com

Today is paper day...many of you will have gotten you provincial newsletter and national newspaper today - hope you enjoy it and decide to get on the sharing bandwagon!

Have a tootin' good day folks and if you are riding today, please ride carefully and try to keep images of a talking toilet trike out of your head...

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Score a big one for Prairie Harley-Davidson & Regina

After a year of fund raising, Prairie Harley-Davidson should be taking a bow...the dealership played a big part in the donation of a new bus to the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre. According to the article in the Leader Post, the Centre had been without a bus since last December when their old one was decommissioned of safety purposes.
Prairie H-D got involved with this project because one of the owners had been a resident at the centre for two years. In all Prairie H-D donated close to $40K towards the purchase of the bus by holding various fundraisers like a motorcycle raffle and tee shirt sales. The bus cost $80K and will help 120 residents to gain some freedom!

Way to go people!

Wow - I can't believe how nice it is to report on something in the mainstream news feeds that is so great instead of the usual political gloom and doom of being a rider in this country. When I read this story in the feeds this morning my heart just soared!
It is so seldom that the really great things that our community does and participates in outside of Toy Runs is ever reported in the main stream news feeds!

I would love to have more riders sharing the feel good stories of their communities, I feel it is high time that we get the recognition for the good we do instead of only hearing about the negative things like loud pipes.

So, the question of the day is - what great things have riders in your community done to help out?
Enquiring minds want to know.

In BC, three riders were charged for racing on Vancouver Island, the trio were given a ride to the ferry after their bikes were impounded...

In New Brunswick, Toys for Big Boys is hosting a Fall Foliage Run

Also in New Brunswick, a family member of Trevor Nason speaks out on the loud pipes debate

In Sports - Szoke is looking for a manufacturer to ride for in the Canadian SuperBike Championships as Kawasaki announces a cut back in its participation

There are other stories in the news feeds this morning that may be of importance to your day and life, please check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to.

If you are a lucky dawn who is riding today, PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and have a fabulous hump day!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider