Celtic Rider wins enterprise award and BC's Hells Angels say they will fight for all British Columbians

As I am just back from a tour with Celtic Rider Motorcycle Rentals & Tours, I found it rewarding to see that they had won yet another award.

I can say from first hand experience that their dedication to tourism in their country is amazing. It's rare to meet people who love what they do and where they live and who exude enthusiasm the way they do. So Paul, Mick, Sibodhan, Liam et al - congratulations for being rewarded for a job well done! You truly deserve it.

In other news, BC's Hells Angels have set themselves up as constitutional champions on behalf of all British Columbians.

The have mounted a challenge of British Columbia’s Civil Forfeiture Act in the B.C. Supreme Court.

According to the article in Maclean: “It’s really an end run around checks and balances in the criminal process,” says Michael Vonn, policy director at the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. End Quote

And the Hells Angels lawyer agrees. Begin Quote: the group’s lawyer argues, is not a proven criminal organization, therefore, forfeiture of its properties in east Vancouver, Kelowna and Nanaimo is a violation of its Charter rights. End Quote

The BC Civil Liberties Association says: Begin Quote: It’s a battle others in similar situations can’t afford to take on, says Vonn, noting the minimum cost to defend a civil claim is tens of thousands of dollars. Because of this, she says, many on the receiving end of forfeiture claims end up settling. The Civil Liberties Association also questions whether penalties administered through forfeiture fit the corresponding crimes. While originally meant as a tool to target organized crime, regular folk have had their homes liquidated for housing a handful of marijuana plants, or their cars seized for speeding, says Vonn. End Quote

I have to say it, bizarre as it may sound, that the Hells Angels are probably the best suited to take on this charter challenge. Is everyone who wears their patch a criminal? I would hazard a guess and say no.  Have they been convicted as a criminal organization? Not in BC.  Do they have the money to fund this kind of fight? Probably, they all seem to have good paying jobs or businesses.

Queensland Australia is heating up the battle of the bikies with the first arrests under their new laws.  

Those laws are: Vicious Lawless Associations Disestablishment Bill, the Tattoo Parlours Bill and the Criminal Gang Destruction Bill

Under these new laws it is illegal for bikies to attend their clubhouse, to work in Tattoo Parlours, they are not allowed to wear their colours to hotels or be seen in groups larger than 3.

Under the new laws, automatic mandatory 6 month jail sentences for the above crimes will be handed out.

About the first arrests - from SBS:

Begin Quote: Peter Johnson and Mark Filtness, both 47, were arrested in Cairns on Friday morning and charged with offences under the state's new anti-bikie gang laws.

The pair were granted bail in the Cairns Magistrates Court about 4.30pm (AEST) on Friday.

The men must surrender their passports and are due to reappear on November 1.

They were arrested on Friday morning and each face one charge of being a participant in a criminal organization entering a prescribed place.

The court heard that the pair told police they had been members of the Odin's Warriors for 20 years.

Their lawyer, Philip Bovey, said the pair had been at the gang's clubhouse as both of their flats were located on the same property.

He said the men were arrested shortly after Johnson visited Cairns Police Station to ask whether it was against the law for him to be living on the same property as the clubhouse.

Mr Bovey argued the men didn't pose a flight risk or a threat to the community.

He said Johnson had no criminal history, while Filtness had only been convicted on minor charges in 2000 and in the 1980s.

Johnson works as a diesel fitter in Weipa on Cape York and Filtness is a truck driver.

Police prosecutors opposed bail, saying the men were a flight risk as the club could provide financial assistance.

They argued that the pair could flee as they face a mandatory six month jail term if convicted. End Quote

Reportedly the government in Queensland is planning on building a new "Bikies ONLY" prison, where each prisoner would be in lock down for 23 hours a day, among implementing other harsh conditions.

From ABC.net

Begin Quote: "Mr Bleijie says the confiscated bikes will be crushed if gang members are convicted of the offences.
"Legislation that I introduce tomorrow into Parliament will have certain new offences for criminal motorcycle gang members," he said. Upon those offences being committed, there will be immediate impoundment of the motorbike and upon conviction of the particular offences, the motorbikes will actually be crushed." End Quote

From Courier Mail

Begin Quote:

Members of 26 bikie gangs declared criminal organizations in Queensland face being locked up in maximum security jails for a minimum of 15-years unless they rat on associates.

Legislation introduced to State Parliament yesterday will make it almost impossible for outlaw motorcycle gangs to exist in Queensland with jail terms applying for riding in groups or even wearing club colours to a hotel.

More serious offences such as drug possession, trafficking, dangerous driving or assault will carry additional mandatory sentences of 15-years, plus an extra ten for office-bearers, unless the gang member becomes a police informant. End Quote

Ordinary riders who ride with a groups/association/club that is non 1% in Queensland are terrified as one man was stopped 11 times in 11 days!

I for one am very concerned about the laws in Australia because like it or not, there are police officers who are rogue and will harass innocent riders just because they wear their riding group patch and the cops in many cases don't know the difference nor do they appear to care to.  Even if it only happens infrequently - it's wrong.

Then there is the BC Hells Angels issue.  I for one say good.  In enough cases to warrant my comment, the punishment has far out weighed the crime.  If the Hells Angels are truly a criminal organization then it is up to the system of law we have to prove that, charge them and have them convicted.  But again, as with the case in Australia, what happens to the rest of us who ride with non 1% patches - are we going to have to waste hundreds of hours, money etc to continually prove we are who we say we are?

Is there NO Balance that can be found when it comes to 1% issues and the lives of ordinary people who ride?

So - what are your thoughts on the key two topics for today?

Are the BC Hells Angels Charter Champions for all British Columbians and the Harsh new bikie laws in Queensland Australia - what do you think?

This should provide some heated conversations - let's see if we can be more level headed than government!

Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linked In or right here in this blog for some discussion - hopefully civil about these topics.

In the meantime, I leave you with a few funnies, shared with me by friends on Facebook and via emails:

If you are lucky enough to be riding today, remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and please remember to dress for the slide and not the ride!

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Harley-Davidson recalls over 30,000 2014 motorcycles

It's a wild and wooley news day...

Harley-Davidson has issued a DO NOT RIDE notice to their customers and a DO NOT DELIVER order to their dealers on touring motorcycle models: FLHTCU, FLHTK, FLHTP, FLHX, FLHXS, FLHTKSE and FLHRSE, plus Softail CVOs and Trikes, models FLHTCUTG, FXSBSE and FLSTNSE, built between May 3, 2013, and Oct. 14, 2013

If you own one of these models and have not yet gotten your notice - PLEASE do not ride your bike but load it up and take it to your dealer! 

Apperently the hydraulic clutch is not disengaging properly making the bikes hard to slow down or stop.

Honda has launched their new CBR300R and is saying goodbye to their CBR250R, although it was launched in China, it is a "global" bike according to the article from Visor Down

In BC, three riders lost their motorcycles for speeding for 7 days, one of them crashed in front of the arresting officer. All three were were in their 20's and live in Abbotsford.

In Ottawa police are on the hunt for a motorcyclist from Quebec riding a yellow sport bike after he broke an officers arm while riding past him.

In the US, an entreprenuer came up with a new helmet he hopes will reduce motorcycle crashes.  According to the article, the Skelly helmet  will provide GPS information but it isn’t projected on the visor itself but onto a display that appears to the rider as if it’s about 6 meters ahead of them. It doesn’t interfere with the rider’s primary field of view and allows riders to lift the helmet visor without losing the display.

In International News - the Bandidos are reportedly turing in their colors in droves after the announcement of a new harsh law in Queensland Australia.

The new law will make it illegal to ride in groups, to wear colors in hotels and will see a special jail built just for bikers that will have them in lock down 23 hours a day.  

The new law includes mandatory 15-year sentences for drug possession, trafficking, dangerous driving and assault, plus an extra 10 years for office-holding bikers, unless the gang member becomes an informant.

I wonder why the Mongols have decided to patch the Finks over when the rest of the 1% world seems to be fleeing Queensland?

I am finally getting over jet lag and getting back into a more normal work rythym.  I had heard that jet lag can kick your arse harshly, now I know first hand just how badly!

I hope your Thursday is a good one, and if you subscribe to our newspaper, The Busted Knuckle Chronicles, that you are enjoying your paper today.

I leave you with a few funnies, shared with me by friends on Facebook and by emails.
Laughter is an important part of a healthy life!

If you are blessed to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Until tomorrow,

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Aprilia is cutting production and a whole ton of other motorcycle news on tap today!

I am just back from Ireland and the tour that Stephanie and I took with Celtic Rider Motorcycle Tours.

We had a most amazing time and I am looking so very forward to sharing all about the trip beginning in December. It will take me that long to finish all of the articles from the Conga and to get caught up with editing for our TV Series, Ride Like a Local on Eastlink TV.  (Choose Alberta, Grande Prairie and then Ride Like a Local to learn more)

I am proud to announce that Kimpex has come on board as the major sponsor of our 2014 "Beat the PMS Blues" Online Show 'n' Shine. They have some incredible prizes up for grabs!

Watch for the information on entering your bike beginning in December as well!

I have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the news in the motorcycle community.

I have been disconnected for the last two weeks and so it came as quite the shock to me to hear the Aprilia is cutting production for October and putting 360 workers on unpaid leave.
According to the article in Motorcycle dot Com poor sales and a slow Italian economy are to blame.

It would seem that the One Per Center World is exploding with all kinds of fiendish news:

The US Mongols have patched over the Finks in Australia

And it seems that US Law makers just can't work together.
Federal prosecutors have taken over a case from the Essex County Prosecutors in Boston after refusing to turn over FBI reports. According to the article in the Boston Globe -

Begin Quote "It is not unusual for federal prosecutors to take over a state prosecution and move a case to the US court system, where penalties for violent crimes could be much more severe.

But the decision to shift prosecution of the case to the federal government now under apparently contentious circumstances surprised legal observers because of the time already spent at the state level and because of the dispute over the sharing of evidence." End Quote

In Health and Technology news, Simpson has acquired the exclusive rights to manufacture and market a helmet removal system called "Eject Emergency Helmet Removal System".  Simpson has long been a leader in safety equipment for a variety of motorsports. According to the article from PR Newswire:

Begin Quote "The light weight Eject Emergency Helmet Removal System can be easily installed into motorcycle and auto racing helmets without changing the fit or feel of the helmet. The system is capable of preventing further neck and spine injuries to a crash victim by providing first responders with a safe method for helmet removal that does not cause unwanted movement to the victim's neck or spine. End Quote

There are a ton of other interesting items in the news feeds over at Belt Drive Betty dot Com.

We are undergoing a huge overhaul on our web site.  

We recently upgraded our content management system and have been battling with components that are not working properly with the new system.  Just before I left for Ireland, we had a brand new template created and are now remapping everything to the new menus.

It's a slow and painful process - but one we must undertake in order that the web site serves you your information in a way that works well.

So - I am asking for two things from you:
One - your patience as we muddle through every page and every menu to make sure everything is working well.

Two - if you see anything on our site that is not working right, is not user friendly - PLEASE drop us a line at ali4evr@gmail.com so that our web team can work the issues into their work flow and get our site smokin' again.

We are working hard to rectify the challenges and in the meantime, I will do my best to blog every day to help you find the news and information you need.

You can also subscribe to the Busted Knuckle Chronicles, Canada's ONLY weekly newspaper for riders...click here to learn more.  Want a free subscription? Click here to join our Canadian Riders Support Newtwork tand earn a free subscription or renewal!

Help us to continue to provide the riding community with free promotion of their events and riding clubs, buy your Belt Drive Betty Gear Today!

I leave you with a few funnies shared with me by friends through Facebook and by email....
I need a laugh today! How about you?

Have a great day and if you are lucky enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor  Rider

Time is flying....

I have been home just over a week and am already looking at the looming date of Monday when I need to be as caught up from 90 days on the road as is possible. Why? Because I am going to Ireland.

It is my first time going to Europe and I am nervous and excited.  Celtic Rider has a great itinerary lined up for Stephanie and I. When we arrive, we have a day to ourselves in Dublin and then the guys will pick us up, take us to the Celtic Rider location for a safety course on riding on the left hand side of the road.  We will have a guide for the first two days just to ensure that we get the hang of things.

I am nervous as I have never ridden a BMW before much less a sport touring bike, AND I have never ridden on the left side of the road before. I don't want to be dead and I don't want to embarrass myself either.

I know I have a fair amount of experience under my belt but that does not stop a good case of the nerves from happening!

While on this trip I will also be doing product testing.

Kimpex has sent Stephanie and I some new helmets to test.  Both helmets have the ear pockets for communications devices so we will be testing the UClear communications units.
These are the ones with the boomless mics and came to us from Green Room Social, a marketing company.

We will see how they perform in non full face helmets where the sound quality is reported to be amazing.  Once we are done with the UClear devices they have to go back to the marketing firm to send out to other journalists to try.

Then I am testing out the new Heat Demon heated vest and foot warmers also thanks to Kimpex.

These babies can be hooked to the battery on your motorcycle but can also be hooked up to an external battery pack that fits in the inside pocket of the vest so that you can continue to have heat when you are off the bike.  Also if you were on a rental bike (like I will be in Ireland) that you could not attach the battery connector to, you could still be running a heated vest when needed!

When I got the gear in yesterday, I charged the battery up and then wore the vest until the battery died and I was very pleased with the amount of heat and the length of time the small external battery could provide.


4 hours on HIGH!












The vest has some pretty cool features too, the side panels of the vest give you the ability to find the right fit for you.

I am looking forward to testing out the foot warmers and seeing how they perform. These babies are one size fits all in that like insoles, there are guides for you to cut them to match up with your foot size.

The cables seem very lightweight and unobtrusive and run up your legs where they hook to a y cable and then into the controller.

Because I have arthritis in my feet in a really bad way, I am particularly looking forward to see how these babies will work.  They might solve some of the cold weather riding issues I have.

All of these products will get a work out in Ireland and I'll have full reviews on them sometime there after.

Like I said, I am nervous, excited and a tad overwhelmed with the work load I have created for myself by being on the road for 90 days, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The minute I feel overwhelmed I look at some of the 200 plus hours of video I have to edit and I smile, remembering the wonderful people, the amazing scenery, the food...photos and videos sure keep those memories alive and vivid!

Yes, everything in life is a trade off and while I might moan a little about the work, I am so grateful to have it!


Until next time, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you!

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

I get to sleep in my own bed tonight after 32,770 Kms or 20,362 miles.

I was supposed to arrive home yesterday, but I left Edmonton later in the afternoon and hit some wild weather that was brewing around Sangudo.  By the time I hit the Isogun hill by Fox Creek AB., it was full blown torrential rain, with really hard wind.  It took me 3 hours to ride what normally takes 1.5 hours.

I made it as far as Valleyview and decided it was time to call it a day.
I had had two semis, just past Little Smoky that had almost knocked me off the road they passed me so close.  I was doing about 60KPH with the four ways on, I simply couldn't see where I was going the rain was coming down so hard, and I am not 100% either driver knew I was there.  There was no safe place to pull over and so I had to keep going until I could get to Valleyview.

Once there I got something warm to eat and a room at the Raven Inn, everyone else was full. I can see why this place is a last resort motel. It's unkempt and dingy, but the bedding was clean, it was dry and there was coffee. $65 plus tax for this place was $35 too much, but like I said, it was shelter.

I hung all my clothes up, cranked the heat to get my boots to dry and hit the hay after a few hours of writing.

I got up and headed out at about 9:45 am, the sky was ugly, it was windy, but it was not raining.
As I got closer to Grande Prairie, the skies turned blue and while it was still cold and windy, it felt good to be doing so in the sunshine.

I pulled in the driveway and began unpacking my bike. The poor girl needs a bath!
Man hubby's lawn is sure looking good and so are my flower beds.

I hauled my gear into the house and began putting things away and getting all my gear ready to be washed. I hugged my kitty's who both seemed pretty surprised but happy to see me.

I walked into the bedroom to put some stuff away and got a shock.
Hubby had renovated the bedroom, and it it GORGEOUS! I knew he was doing that, but never expected what I saw. The man should have been an interior decorator instead of a mechanic - he has impeccable taste.

A new bed frame, dressers and night table and all of the bedding and curtains to match along with new art...I am blown away!

I went into the kitchen and was surprised to see a new stove and then when I went to haul my laundry downstairs I got another shock...a new washer and dryer.

He must have won the lottery or else his line of credit took a shit kicking...
Wow, what a great thing to come home to.  I felt like I had been missed and I still haven't seen him yet!

Now comes the job of getting caught up on all of my writing for tourism and video editing for Eastlink TV.  Bookkeeping, follow up calls....ugh, back to a different kind of work where I am stuck infront of a computer instead of the handlebars - but all of that is going to have to wait until TOMORROW!
For the balance of today I am taking a hot bath, having a nap and getting ready for when hubby comes home from work. I can't wait to see the old boy, I have missed him something fierce.
Tonight we take our daughter out for her birthday - which was yesterday.

Tomorrow my day starts with meetings and editing...so until then,
If you are lucky enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor and Rider

Congratulations to the Canadian Legion of Riders in North Battleford

It is with great pleasure that I announce that the winner of the 2013 Johnny Pag Ventura Motorcycle is The Canadian Legion of Riders.

Because they understood the challenge best out of all the groups I worked with, they hosted an event and invited their community out to help them win the bike and gave me the opportunity to speak to over 200 people about the issues our veterans are facing.

Medric Cousineau's walk will conclude on the 19th of this month - he has been walking with his service dog Thai to raise funds to buy other vets a service dog....

I am so proud to be supporting his efforts and those of VETS and the Military Police Relay Ride for Blind Children.

My trip will end today when I arrive home to Grande Prairie later today, it's been an honour and a pleasure to ride with so many, to speak to thousands, to promote my sponsors and our community.

I am tired and beat up but feel blessed to have been able to affect some change, to impact lives in real time.

I have so many people to thank, many product reviews and articles chronicling my journey to complete.
I will over the course of the next few weeks finish the work that this Conga generated but I want to take this time to thank everyone who helped make this Conga such a huge a success.

There were disappointments, the weather caused a few events to be a wash, there were a few events that were not promoted well - it is the first time I have ever attempted something like this and I have learned much.  The next time I undertake something like this I know what I need to do better, and trust me there will be a next time and it will be MUCH MUCH better because of the things I have learned.

While I have faced a few disappointments there were so very many uplifting and incredible moments - so many amazing people who made this trip a success and I can't wait to share those stories with you.

I arrive home late this afternoon and will begin the work of catching up in earnest tomorrow.

Please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and remember, if you enjoy your freedoms, please take 5 minutes out of your busy life to thank a veteran and write your MP and MLA to ensure the plight of our veterans and RCMP and the loss of their pensions and the reduction in their benefits becomes an election issue.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor and Rider

canadian bikers | canadian riders

Tomorrow in North Battleford - the Conga is winding down!

Well folks tomorrow we have a big fundraiser happening at the Legion - Branch 70 - in North Battleford - it's an all day affair being kicked off with a Pancake Breakfast and includes a show n shine, stunt rider etc.

Noth Battleford's Canadian Legion of Riders intends to win the Johnny Pag Motorcycle that is up for grabs!  They are inviting their entire community to come out, pay the $10 pledge which equals a vote, get a breakfast or a lunch in return and spend a great day being entertained and helping our veterans.

Then on Sunday at Black Jacks in Nisku Alberta is our final fundraiser.

Black Jacks is hosting a BBQ in support of STARS & the Conga and we will be accepting $10 pledges which as I said equal a vote!

I will be arriving at Black Jacks at approximately 3pm - so come on out and help us help our Veterans!

Once I get home to Grande Prairie we will tally all the votes up and one lucky riding club will win the 2013 Johnny Pag Ventura to raffle off, auction off or give away to a vet who needs a bike!

Who will it be?

I will announce the winning Military Clubs name after I get home and have had a few days to regroup and get the paperwork done!

Hope to see a ton of people out this weekend - the weather looks stellar so there is no reason not to come out.

Until next time,

Belt Drive Betty
Editor and Rider