Why the average rider gets a bad rap...

I had asked what people thought of 1%ers a few days ago and got a comment from one reader who suggested that those who think they are bad ass doing more harm than those who choose the 1%er life and yah know what - I think he's on to something.

Here is Bonecutter's rant on the topic:

Begin Quote: Maybe a good question would be how much damage do the some of other 99% of riders do to the perception of bikers?
Go to a bike show. Watch some of the guys from the mom and pop clubs slip on a leather jacket or vest and suddenly start walking around like they just grew a set of biceps.

Go to a pub night and watch the same people indulging in juvenile antics before they go home and take off their "bad boy" costumes. Before they go back to their day jobs and their regular lives.

If riders don't want to be associated with that image then leave the leathers, the vests, the patches - leave all of it in the store. Put on your colourful Joe Rocket gear, take off the loud pipes, leave the attitude at home and enjoy your ride. There's nothing wrong with that.

But so long as people get a thrill out of living out their idea of a bad boy image - we're going to keep contributing to the problem. End Quote

Today in the news we have not one but three dumb asses who truly do more harm to the rider lifestyle than most 1%ers ever could...

A motorcyclist going the wrong way down the highway doing 101 MPH

A motorcyclist doing a wheelie at 103MPH 

And the dumb ass of the day award goes to a dad, riding with his two small children, zipping in and out of traffic - NOT ONE OF THEM wearing a helmet.

Yup - we are our own worst enemy! Thanks for the reality check there Bonecutter!

There is a TON of news in the feeds today, visit www.beltdrivebetty.com - where our work is keeping You informed, to see what might affect your day or life as a rider...

I close off with a few funnies - cause laughter is sorely needed this morning. Thanks to all my wonderfully zany friends on Facebook who shared with me...

Have a fabulous Thursday and PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you...


Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Utterly Disgraceful...

An article today in the Chronicle Herald tells us how the Parti Quebecois removed the Canadian flag from its spot in the legislature: Begin Quote -
as mem­bers of the pro-independence Parti Quebecois took the oath of office Monday.

The removal of the Maple Leaf was part of a long-standing see­saw ritual: it had been long ab­sent in the legislature but was restored nine years ago when Jean Charest’s Liberals took office and placed it next to the Quebec flag at the Speaker’s chair in the building’s cere­monial chamber.

It was gone again Monday as the PQ’s 54-member caucus took the oath of office in the ornate old upper chamber, known as the Red Room, where the Quebec Fleur-de-lis was once again standing alone. End Quote...

As much as I love this country, as much as I have family ties to Quebec, as much as I want to see our country united, perhaps it is time that the rest of Canada vote on whether or not we want to keep Quebec as a part of Canada.

In so many ways Canada would be better off without the bully that is the PQ. We would be poorer for loosing the beauty that is Quebec but the nasty politics of that province do so much to hurt our pride and unity that perhaps it is time to give up the dream of a united Canada...

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on this topic...

Should the rest of Canada ask Quebec to either join us properly in being Canadian or simply ask them to leave?

No transfer payments - get your own currency...what say you?

In other news:

In BC, a rider is in serious condition after a crash that closed the Massey Tunnel

In Manitoba, no charges will be laid in a crash that killed a rider near Shoal Lake

In Ontario, a 38 year old Brampton man is dead after a crash in Caledon

In St Louis Mo, the Ride of the Century had some serious troubles

In Australia, they are considering legalizing lane splitting or filtering to ease congestion

There is a ton of news in the feeds today that may affect your day or life as a rider, to see what's happening around the block or around the world visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping You informed...

I leave you with a few giggles shared with me by friends on Facebook and via email and after the PQ's latest stunt I think we all need a giggle...

Have a safe and happy Tuesday,

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Bikers suing the US government

Lat week I asked you how you felt about the 1% community, there were no responses, so either you chose not to respond, or no one read the article.

The 1% community influences law enforcement and government when it comes to the treatment of the you and I - the everyday ordinary rider get treated.

Last week an event in Oregon was shut down because of the Mongols and the Angels having a dispute.

This week, there is news that a prominent immigration lawyer named Margaret Wong is suing the US government on behalf of the Hells Angels over it's policy of denying entry visas to members of the group.

Begin Quote: "Wong and Kentucky lawyer Matthew Robinson are representing the motorcycle club in a lawsuit filed last month in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The suit says Hells Angels members have been denied travel visas after the Homeland Security and State departments designated the club as a "known criminal organization."

The suit says the blanket designation is unwarranted and violates federal immigration law." End Quote

Regardless of what your personal views are on who the Hells Angels are, if governments can deny entry into a country based on the fact you are a member - and you have no criminal record...do you think it could happen to you?

I have a taped interview with a German biker who visited this country about a year ago. In that interview he expresses that he travelled through 3 international airports and their security before landing in Toronto. In Toronto he was strip searched and grilled over his tee shirts and what they meant - why? Because he chose to wear his leathers sooner than pack them in his bag and pay for the extra weight. He expressed that the officers who interrogated him, insisted his tee shirts were gang related and not event related as he insisted they were.

So - while the Hells Angels and others of their ilk may be the cause of the grief many of us go through, the RCMP and other police services are the ones who perpetrate the profiling of our community.  I had spoken to MP Chris Warkenton a while back regarding the issue of police profiling and he said he would never ask or insist they stop profiling because it is a valuable tool.   Hmmm - I wonder.

So - what are your thoughts on this fine Monday morning?

Is profiling a good tool for the police to use?

Are the Hells Angels right to be suing the US government over denying visitor visas?

How do you feel about tourists who are not members of 1% motorcycle clubs being strip searched over the apparel they wear?

I would love to know!

In other news:

A rider in Edmonton is in serious condition after a crash last night on Groat Road.

Also in Edmonton, a plea is being sent out for Edmontonians to endure the noise generated by the upcoming Toy Run.

The Barber Vintage Festival is dubbed the fastest growing celebration of vintage motorcycles and is scheduled for October 12 – 14, 2012 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.

In Sports - Valentino Rossi finished second, 4 second behind Jorge Lorenzo this weekend. It was Rossi's best finish in two years!

There is lots of other articles in the news feeds that may be of interest to you as a rider, check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping You informed!

I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends on Facebook and via emails...

Have a fabulous Monday and please - ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

1%ers - how do YOU feel about them?

There is an article out of Oregon this morning that caught my eye, it's all about how the Hells Angels and the Mongols caused a rally to get shut down.

According to the article, the Run to the Cascades rally at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds was closed down by the police after they heard that although the Hells Angels had packed up as the Mongols "ordered them to" it was reported the Hells Angels were getting more members to come back to the event and retaliate.  As there had already been two prior arrests at the rally, one in a dispute Friday night reportedly involving a knife, and another early Saturday after a man fired a gun at the fairgrounds, the police shut the rally down.

In BC this summer we riders experienced extreme police presence and harassment because the Hells Angels had booths at several events.

Now I personally know a few members of the Angels, people I like.
There are many I do not like - again for personal reasons.

My question for the day is how do you feel about organizations like the Hells Angels, the Mongols, the Outlaws etc...

What are you biggest concerns about them?

Is there anything we can do as a community to distance ourselves from the reputation these groups have?

Is there anything we can do to prevent our events from being shut down because of organizations who feel it is their right to fight over turf at a public event?

How do we riders protect the 99% from being profiled because of the actions of the 1%?

Any ideas? Thoughts? Comments?

I'd LOVE to hear them.

There is a lot of news in the feeds today, some of it may affect your day or life as a rider, so check out the news feeds at www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed...

This past weekend I was at the CMDRA Drags in Edmonton and on Monday and Tuesday I was filming in the Peace River region with Joe Media for Travel Alberta.   I am not sure which was the coolest experience as I was at the drags with my nephew Luke and in the VIP Skybox for Blackjacks Roadhouse in Nisku. Luke is my deceased brothers son and it was so wonderful to spend time with him!

Filming with the gang from Joe Media and fellow riders Greg from Peace River and Trayr from Calgary was definitely one of the cool experiences in life. I now understand why actors and actresses of any caliber get the big bucks. I was amazed at how hard the job really was.  I enjoyed riding with Greg and Trayr and was amazed how well we did at riding together for three people who had never done so before!  The video will be about 3 minutes long we are told, and will air on Youtube sometime in January.  I am amazed that it took 2 very full days to get the filming done for a 3 minute video and can only imagine the work that will take place in the editing suite after that!

Our new clothing line has launched and we have hoodies, tees, tanks and long sleeves available - hope you will consider buying a shirt and supporting us so that we can continue to provide you with the news and tools we do!  We have partnered with Urban Rebel Clothing in Vernon BC to provide a TOP NOTCH line and free shipping is offered on orders over $99! The BDB Store is where you can get our new clothing!

I am signing off for today by sharing a few giggle from friends on Facebook and by emails...

Have a fabulous Thursday everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Riding on the shoulder causes a fist fight....

A story out of BC comes at a very appropriate time for me.  It involves 2 riders riding up the shoulder while traffic is backed up and how one truck driver took offence...apparently a fist fight ensued...

Now the reason the timing of this story is so important is that on Friday I will be at the CTV 2 Studios for a discussion on Alberta Primetime regarding lane splitting.

I have such mixed emotions on this topic and this article from the Saanich News makes me even more torn on the topic.

Lane splitting or riding on the should have so many benefits until you factor in the human race...
I would love your thoughts on this topic - they may help me be a good representative of the feelings of all riders both for and opposed!

It should prove to be an interesting topic. I'll let you know when the program airs.

I will be leaving at 7 am in order to be at the studio in Edmonton on time, then I will be attending the CMDRA All Bike Gras season finale at Castrol Speedway.

I will be in the Black Jack's Lounge VIP Skybox when I am not on the line doing photography and video!  Liane from M.O.D.E.L. will be joining me...come say hi....

I will sign off by reminding you to check our website, www.beltdrivebetty.com for all the news and information that might impact your day or life as a rider  and by sharing a few funnies to get your day off to the right start! Thanks to all my crazy, loveable friends who have shared these with me wither through FB or by email!

Have a fabulous Thursday and please, ride safe no matter where your travels take you this weekend.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Cycle Logic owner, Johnny Newcome charged

Police have charged Johnny Newcome of Cycle Logic with "with numerous offences related to the possession and trafficking of stolen property" according to the Vancouver Sun

The article claims that members of the Throttle Lockers, The Kingpin Crew and the Hells Angels are also accused of trafficking in stolen vehicles.

According to an article from the CBC:

"Insp. Rick Flewelling said the RCMP allege that the man, and perhaps others, targeted high-end vehicles that were pre-ordered by customers.

"Somebody's put an order in for it. They've gone out, They've stolen it, brought it in,'re-VINned' it and then sold it off," he said.

In other cases, the garage apparently processed vehicles that were reported stolen by the Hells Angels themselves, police said.

In one instance, police allege the president of the Kelowna Hells Angels chapter reported two vehicles as stolen, and the vehicles were later processed at the garage.

Police also recovered three stolen vehicles that were allegedly in the possession of the Calgary-based Southland Hells Angels chapter.

In total, police recovered about $750,000 worth of stolen vehicles and machinery as part of the investigation."

It's a sad thing to hear, because this used to be a shop with a great reputation - if proved to be true, then it's over, if not true - the shop will probably never recover it's once good name...I guess time will tell us some semblance of the truth...

Now to a non motorcycle related issue - that of the elections in Quebec...
What are your thoughts on PQ Leader Pauline Marois and her minority mandate.
How do you think this is going to affect Canadian Politics? What is this going to do to the unity in our country?

In my mind, the worst thing to happen in this country was the Parti Quebecois.  The theme of separatism is one I find hard to deal with.

I grew up in a household where my father, who had once attempted to learn French, was firmly against anyone speaking a language he could not understand.
He had had a cruel joke played on him, and his efforts to please his wife had him thrown out of the hospital room she was in - for whatever it was he was taught to say by a supposed friend.

His mistrust was earned by experience - he could have chosen to go to school and learn the language properly but chose instead to hold on to his fear and distrust.  It was hard for my family, as my mother was an Acadian and many of her family had moved to Quebec.  They all spoke French as their first language.

It concerns me deeply, as a member of a French and English blended family and as a proud Canadian that many in Quebec want to separate from Canada.

This country is so beautiful, it is so magnificent and the very thought of it being pulled apart is like tearing my family apart.

AND YET...

I feel very strongly that it is wrong on so many levels that they have their French language law that discriminates against the English & Others from different ethnic backgrounds of their province.

I think it is wrong to divide our country in this fashion - the French VS the English, French VS Jewish etc. - can't we ever get to a point in this country where we are all Canadians first?

If you are a citizen of this country, couldn't we all speak the Universal Language of English for our jobs and speak whatever language, be it French, Italian, German, Ukrainian etc at home and with our friends?  Couldn't our Governments simply offer translation services for those just learning or who have had a tough time mastering English instead of having two official languages?   And laws that force the point?

Did the Japanese, the Ukrainians, the Polish, the Irish, the Scots and all of the immigrants before and since not offer something to the growth of this country?  Why are they discriminated against by virtue of this language "barrier"?

We ALL came from somewhere else be it through hundreds of years of ancestry or today's immigration system.  Even the "Natives" the First Nations people came from somewhere else to settle here in the country we call Canada.

So why, why can't we all use one common language to work from and to celebrate our chosen heritage and celebrate our familial heritage in our various local communities and in our families as we see fit to do or not to do?

Why do we have to order people to speak French and English to work for the Federal Government? Why can't it be English and Dutch? OR English and ANY other language?

Quebec is a beautiful province and there are some damned fine people who live and work there...I find this situation to be painful to my heart and the pride and love I feel for this country.

I am a confused human being who only wants her country to be a place where everyone who chooses to live in Canada feels they belong here more than anywhere else in the world and let that be the reason they choose to live here - because the values and morals, the acceptance and tolerance of differences are something to be celebrated,  let these reasons to be Canadian, resonate in their hearts.

If you were born in this country like I was, how do you feel about this situation?
Your family, no doubt has an ethnic background - was it something you held on to with pride?
Were the customs and traditions of your family heritage ignored or celebrated?
Did you feel ostracized, different?

I am a Heinz 57.

I have French, French Canadian, Scots, Polish, English and Irish blood running in my veins.  I have no definable heritage other than being Canadian - I know a little bit about the traditions of these ethnicities but they were never deeply ingrained into me. We made our own traditions and rituals if you will, with little bits of the past and the heritage of all of our blended bloods and mixed them into new ones...ones that celebrated where our ancestors came from but honoured the fact that they and we had CHOSEN to be Canadians.

As a human being, I have the right to choose to live anywhere in this world - provided I meet the requirements of the country I want to immigrate to. No one forces me to live here. I choose to live here.

I guess I am thick - because seriously - I just don't get it - why do we have to have such divisions?

Personally, I don't care who you are, what colour you are - what ethnicity - what I care about is how you treat me and how I treat you.

We all want to feel loved, accepted - we all want to enjoy the fruits of our labours and our love.
We all need food, shelter and clothing...we all have challenges and issues and we all have strengths and weaknesses...we are humans, sharing a magnificent country...in my mind, the operative word here is SHARING...

I'd love your thoughts on this tender topic...

There is a ton of information in the news feeds this morning that may affect your day or life as a rider...check it out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed.

I leave you with a few funnies, shared with me by friends on Facebook and through Emails...

Have a fantastic hump day everyone...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Home, is where your heart is

Hi all, I am back from my first real vacation in 11 years. And I feel renewed.

While I was on vacation, I decided to be blissfully and totally unplugged. No cell phone, no computer.
I did not watch the news - other than the weather channel. In fact, I only checked in on my business once.

I have, probably one of the best web mistresses/master in the business. Together, she and I manage to do what a lot of bigger businesses have 6 -10 people to do. Because we largely run our business as a non profit, our budgets for hiring are small.  It was a business choice I had made many years ago - at the very beginning. If I was going to earn a living from the community, I was going to put back INTO the community.

So, knowing that I had a dedicated and passionate human being named Ali looking after things, I decided to stay unplugged the entire time of my vacation.

I thought long and hard on what could happen to the business while I was off the grid for the 9 days I would be gone...were there any decisions that I felt Ali couldn't handle? NOPE. Did she have the resources, tools and knowledge to handle things? YUP...

The single biggest cost to the business that I could see was that development of our apps, training modules for RFBA Businesses and a few other important projects would stall.  Could I live with that? YES.

I needed to.  I couldn't afford not to. Ali took away all of my excuses! A gift that I will be forever grateful for.

You see, I have worked pretty much every day, 365 days a year for 11 years. I was loosing my passion for my work. I was feeling pressured, harassed and harangued and I had no one to blame but me.

I set myself up for burn out - I knew it going in.  I am a workaholic. Having something you love to do and throwing your whole self into it is not a bad thing at all, however, you really do need to step back once in a while to regain your focus, your passion, your vision.

I learned a lot from my sabbatical - I love having fun!  I had forgotten what it means to play, blow off steam, enjoy friends and family and not talk work, motorcycles.  It got me back in touch and in harmony with my first community - MY FAMILY.

By giving to them my undivided attention, by showing them the true love and respect I feel for them, my relationships began to flourish again - we were re connected.

My family deserves my love, my respect, my time. I deserve that too - I had forgotten that.

So today I made a promise to myself - no more working 7 days a week. I am going to learn to take one day off a week - no matter what the deadlines are - I am going to work smarter, not harder!

Ali has a lot to do with that happening too!

She has set up our Hoot Suite and we are now able to share things to our readers and web site users in ways that really make sense for everyone.

Our web site is almost completely broken down into provincial, national and international news now, (just a little bit more segregation to be completed).

Ali has started pages on Facebook for each province.
We are now able to push our news out to you based on where you live - so, if you don't want to see what the rest of the country and world are doing - if you are short on time and just want YOU relevant news - you can get it!

So for example we now have:
BC Edition Busted Knuckle Chronicles
AB Edition Busted Knuckle Chronicles

SK Edition, etc...etc...etc...

We will be generating our Busted Knuckle News App in much the same fashion - you will be able to choose all the news, only your province's news, or section by section - the headlines that interest you.

Post it once on our site - it goes to many places to be shared!

That is going to lighten mine and Ali's work loads hugely once all the development is completed!

Our Canadian Events Calendars Page on FB make it so you can share your events to a broader audience easier than ever before!  Our Calendar is already available as an app!

Yes - working smarter not harder, taking time to count our blessings everyday, never taking people for granted, all things I know - all things I need to put more focus on!

To see the photos of my holiday and daughter's wedding visit the albums - Mexican Holiday & Daughter's Wedding  It was a wonderful week - one I shall never forget!

I am glad to be home, back to work, but with a more balanced focus...

In Other news - 

In Ontario:
3 riders in Mississauga are charged for racing
Ride for Respect into Ottawa is coming up on September 9th...

IN BC:
A director for the Vernon region responds to criticism over Policing at Sturgis North and Summer Stomp

IN NS:
The Iron Butts from Digby to QC and back are done

IN SK:
The Saints & Sinners Poker Run was a huge success

In Lifestyles/Electric Motorcycles News - the Lightning is dubbed best electric bike

There is a ton of other news in the feeds today, to find out what might affect your day or life as a rider visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping YOU informed!

I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends on FB and via emails...

Have a fabulous back to school Tuesday everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

motorcycle tourism canada