Ride Like a Pro

So, the sun is out here in the north Peace after a few really cool, overcast trying to rain kind of days.

I feel better than I have for days - besides hurting myself when I slipped last week, I had a flu bug or something that had me feeling off for a few days, but today I feel like I can tackle the world - so...

Flo sent me a copy of the Ride like a Pro DVD, and I am impressed with what I have seen. I am going out today to buy some tennis balls, going to take off my saddle bags and put some foam on my crash bars and hit the parking lot! (If you decide to order one - tell Jerry- Belt Drive Betty sent you and save $5)

I have watched Flo progress from a timid, unsure rider (like we all are when we first start out) into this absolutely polished, powerful and confident rider - my goal is to look and feel as confident on my machine.

I'm an OK rider, I am no fireball that's for sure. I am reasonably confident, I am very hyper aware, especially in town...but the extreme confidence that Flo exhibits - I want to feel that - be that.

I look very forward to some one on one time in the parking lot with my machine...

In other news Layton - our Back Road Scholar who went down in Ely Nevada in June is doing much better. He was pretty busted up and is now in Kelowna General's ICU...
His wife, Myrna is keeping us all updated until our mouthy funny guy can do it for himself. According to Myrna, his sense of humor is still very much intact!

Hubby's MRI results are in and it's not good. The lesions in his brain and spine are much bigger than the last one he had over 7 1/2 years ago. He can't sleep, he says it feels like his skin is crawling and his feet are still numb. He's learning how to get around better BUT...it's still scary - he starts the day out not feeling too bad but a couple of hours in he looks like someone drug him through a knothole backwards... I know that this too shall pass, I hope sooner than later. It hurts my heart seeing him this way. He looks old before his time...what a horrible and vicious disease.

I hope and pray that if you are riding today that you will ride like everyone around you is blind, stay hydrated and be respectful with that throttle hand...

Belt Drive Betty

Our Brothers & Sisters South of the Border are at it again...

Only in America it seems do riders truly stand up for what they believe are their rights.

Our friend and colleague Bruce Arnold sent us in some interesting news from Boston involving a huge lawsuit over a noise ordinance.

"There was an obviously rush to keep this under the radar screen, - it is so flawed, abusive, and puts the safety of law enforcement in jeopardy, having to crawl under motorcycles looking for some stamp," claims Cote....(Most do seem to be knee jerk reactions instead of well thought out)

I find it interesting how Americans stand up and are proactive when something is stuffed down their throats.

I am not saying we here in Canada need to become like Americans, what I do think though is that we could learn a few things. Sometimes it really is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

Here in Canada a new Poll was done regarding Motorcyclists, the way we ride and are perceived.
(Ever notice we tend to do polls and surveys while just to the south of us they tend to just do....)

TIRF (Who did the Poll)- The Traffic Injury Research Foundation provides four core services:

• Research on road crashes
• Program and policy development
• Knowledge transfer and exchange
• Evaluation plans, program and policy evaluations

So are these the guys we blame for some of the dumbassed laws we have or do we blame the law makers for not following through? I've never heard of this group before today and upon looking at their web site I see no evidence of achievements - what I do see are a lot of conferences and symposiums... Does what they do have any real significance or meaning? I'm not sure, but I will be on the look out for some evidence...

Ah the joys of being a motorcyclist!

If you are lucky enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind, stay hydrated and PLEASE, be respectful with that throttle hand - heaven forbid we Canucks be forced to go to court to defend our rights....

Belt Drive Betty

A forced few days off...

Sorry there have been no postings here in the last few days. I slipped and hurt my hip making it extremely painful to do much else but lay down.

After a trip to the massage therapist I am feeling better and able to accomplish a days work again.

There is so much to say, as usual.

Today I want to talk about the politics of motorcycling.

I had gotten an interesting article for our international news from Bruce Arnold of
BRUCE'S RIGHTS RIDERS LIST

The article entitled:
SLACKTIVISTS, LOBBYISTS, ADVOCATES & ACTIVISTS
The Farces and Forces of Motorcyclists' Rights
Hits a number of nails on the head here in Canada!

Our rights and freedoms as riders are always under siege here in the great white North.

There are many Organizations here in Canada that work for our rights like the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada, BCCOM, BRO...

Are you a member of any of these organizations? Do you just pay dues or do you actually volunteer or otherwise get involved?

Canadians as a whole tend to be very complacent. We don't get indignant terribly often, we will whine and snivel - but do anything about it? It has to be something pretty awful and pretty drastic for us to actually do anything - or at least that's the way it appears to me.

So as Bruce asks his American readers - I ask you - what will you do to protect motorcycling as a way of life in Canada? I'd love to know.

In other news...
Layton Park, Our Back Road Scholar is back home in Kelowna. Well OK - not home but in the hospital in Kelowna. He can talk and is doing much better. To keep up with Layton and how he's doing since his accident: Back Road Scholar

Hubby, well that's a different story. He is finished with this round of steroids and still can not fully feel his feet. That from what we are told is not a good thing. The steroid treatment is only a temporary fix and is meant to bring on the "healing" process faster. The fact that his feet are still numb after the treatment suggests that he may not regain the full feeling in his feet once this "attack" is done. It's a waiting game...

Here in the north Peace region of Alberta we are getting geared up for a very special Run!
I hope that we have at least a hundred riders show up who aren't afraid to be on film!
The ride is being filmed for a Motorcycle Tourism DVD for Mighty Peace Tourism Association and will be featured on a new web site that is being built just for this event.
The ride will also be featured in the full length DVD that will be released in January 2010.

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you, stay hydrated and please use respect with your throttle hand.

Belt Drive Betty

Music Therapy

I find myself facing some huge challenges at the moment, hubby and the MS (the prednisone has him and everyone around him on an emotional roller coaster), Lori leaving tomorrow for Drumheller to be with her man for the summer and a growing business that is demanding a lot of time and focus. I know that this too shall pass and that things will improve...but there are days where that is hard to remember.

So when I can't ride my bike to clear my thoughts and brain I listen to music. It seems to help me keep my spirits up and helps me to focus and concentrate on the things I can change and do. Music lifts my soul almost as well as my motorcycle.

What do you do when life feels out of control?
When you can't ride your motorcycle to put things in perspective - what do you do?

I am always looking for ideas to help me stay on task and focused. Your comments, thoughts and ideas would be very appreciated.

In other news, our web site preview will be delayed a couple of days as Ali works out a couple of new kinks that surfaced - the good news is, it's gorgeous and
I can't wait for you all to see it.

The Canuck Chicks Conga is well under way...I hope you have been following these gals on their adventure!

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, PLEASE - ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you, stay hydrated and use respect with that throttle hand.

Belt Drive Betty

Our overhauled web site coming soon

Ali has been working her fingers to the bone.
Her plan is to have the new site ready for preview tomorrow...web sites are so vital these days but they are a ton of work.

We still have lots of little bits to finish but if all goes well the new site - which is lightening fast, will be usable in the next few days.

We will then start holding auctions to support the site and the newspaper - I will fill you in on this a bit more in the next while.

I have a lot of admin work and follow up calls to do over the next few days and look forward to the day when I have someone sitting in this office with me full time!

If you get a chance, check out www.beltdrivebetty.com today, there is a great story on a 90 year old rider who still gets out and rides his motorcycle daily!

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you, stay hydrated and use respect with that throttle hand.

Belt Drive Betty

An Over Night Dice Run

Mighty Peace Tourism is working with me to create a DVD on riding in the North Peace.
The DVD Will feature some of the Peace Region's Motorcycle Events including the new Over Night Dice Run!

The Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists – Peace Country Chapter is proud to announce that they will be hosting a Dice Run in support of the Ride for Dad & AIM-Can - July 10th & 11th 2009

This year’s inaugural event will pave the way for an official chapter of Ride for Dad for the Peace Country in 2010! Not only that, but this event is being filmed as part of a broader tourism initiative with Mighty Peace Tourism Association that will see motorcycle riding in the north Peace be promoted more heavily.

The Dice Run will start off from Grande Prairie Regional Tourism located at:
11330 -106 St, Grande Prairie, phone: (780) 539-7688

Riders will gather between 5 pm and 6:15 pm. They will sign their waiver, pay their $20 ride fee, fill out a tourism survey and roll their first set of dice!

Proceeds from this event will be split between Ride for Dad and the Peace Country Chapter of the Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists.

Rider Pick-Up locations for outlying areas - (You will do your first dice roll, sign your waivers, pay your ride fee & fill out your tourism forms at these locations)

Sexsmith – Stojan’s Power Sports & Marine from 6:30 – 7pm

Rycroft – Alexander’s from 7:30 to 8 pm

We will then ride to our first Rider Pick-Up Point which is Stojan’s Power Sports & Marine in Sexsmith and head for our next Rider Pick-Up Point – Rycroft where we will pick up riders from the Fairview & Rycroft region. Next, we will head to Girouxville and in to Peace River for a Meet & Greet with complimentary finger foods hosted by the Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre.

We have Ride Prizes galore to give away at our various stops on both days!

Special Room Rates in Peace River are being supplied for this event by:

Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre:

Business Class Rooms - Regular Rate of $139.95 for Special Price of $109.95 plus taxes Book under Dice Run

Secured Motorcycle Parking is available on request
9510-100th St
Peace River AB T8S 1S9
Phone: (780) 624-3621
Toll Free: 1-888-729-7343

http://www.sawridgepeaceriver.com/

Best Canadian Motor Inn

Regular Room Rate of $112.27 for Special Price of $75 plus taxes

Book under Dice Run
9810-98 St

Peace River, AB T8S 1J3

Phone: (780) 624-2586

http://www.bestcdn.com/peaceriv/peace.htm

Saturday morning riders will attend the Peace Fest Pancake Breakfast at the Co-op which is a donation breakfast running from 8:30 am to 11:0 am should they choose to.

At 11:00 am we will gather at the parking lot across from the BCM Inn to take part in the Peace River Toyker Run – hands are $5. We will be treated to a free lunch at Mackenzie Caron on the Shaftsbury Trail courtesy of the Village of Berwyn, Berwyn Bigway, Druckers Hardware in Berwyn and the Municipal District of Peace.

The Peace River Toy Run will end at our first Dice Run Roll stop of the day, Maximum Powersports in Peace River.

After our first dice roll of the day we will head to Grimshaw, make sure everyone has fuel and do a ride prize draw. We will then head for Hines Creek, Fairview, and Dunvegan and back to Centre 2000 between 6 pm and 7:30 pm for a wind up BBQ courtesy of the Holiday Inn Express (the hotel is owned by the Pomeroy Group & is celebrating its fifth Anniversary). It is here we get to find out which High Roller is the winner!

The entire event will be being filmed by Velocity Video and will be featured on the web and will be included as part of a larger DVD being produced for Mighty Peace Tourism in partnership with Travel Alberta, Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association, Geo-Tourism Canada, Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre Peace River, Dee-Jay Motel, Dunvegan Inn & Suites, Brutal Tattoo, Maximum Powersports, Holiday Inn Express, Community Futures, PREDA

So come join us as we ride the Mighty Peace to promote our riding communities and support 3 wonderful causes while doing so!

For more information on the Mighty Peace Tourism Motorcycle Tourism Initiative or to become a sponsor, please contact:

Nicole Halvorsen

Mighty Peace Tourism

mpta@telusplanet.net

Toll Free: 1-800-215-4535 Phone: (780) 338-2364

If you are riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind, stay hydrated and be respectful with that throttle hand!

Belt Drive Betty

A wet soggy ride and other stuff...like I hate people who hide!

I made it home after a wet and soggy ride from New Norway.

I had attended the Steel Horse Bar & Grill's Support Our Troops event and headed out in mist that turned to rain. There were tons of motorcycles on the road. I met 4 guys from Rocky Mountain House in Calmar who were heading home from the Heritage Harley-Davidson Cancer Ride. I also met a couple of gents from Montana - they were in Valleyview fueling up and drying off on their way to Alaska.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the number of riders who are not made out of sugar!
I can not begin to tell you how often I dropped my hand into a wave yesterday but it was a lot.

When I got up this morning to start working on the news feeds and to check my emails I came across an anonymous comment from my blogger alerts.

It involved a comment on my blog the other day where in I said I stopped in at the V-Twin Diner.

I personally feel that if you are going to malign someone, you should have the guts to put your name to the complaint.

This person stated that the V-Twin Diner had "Super bad service and it's dirty".
Now this "chicken shit" whoever it is - is either a disgruntled employee or something worse.

I ate there the other night. The bathrooms were so clean you could eat off of the floor as was the rest of the place. As far as the service goes, the waitress who served me was not the most experienced one, but she was truly thoughtful, polite and decent - no fireball, but decent.

I really resent people who hide behind the status of anonymous. It's a personal thing. The only reason you would hide behind the status of anonymous to my way of thinking is if you don't want the person you are maligning to know where it comes from because you don't want to get sued. If what you are saying is true - you should have NO problem putting your name to it.
Being man or woman enough to put your name to a complaint that you write is not only the "Biker" way - it's just plain smart if you want your complaint to really carry any weight.

To the Anonymous person who wrote the complaint about the V-Twin Family Diner - step up and be a man/woman and sign your name to it - otherwise, shut up!

The news feeds from the main stream media really frustrate me some days.

90% of what they contain are accidents - and while it is important information, what gets me is that every weekend there are literally dozens of events - out of 30 news alerts only 3 dealt with the charitable events and the good work that goes on in our community.

Our Newspaper, The Busted Knuckle Chronicles, focuses on the stories that the main stream media ignores. If you haven't read the "Knuckle" before, look for it at one of your favorite events this summer or at any of our partners businesses - many of them get the paper and are outlets where you can get a copy. The paper truly celebrates the Canadian Motorcycle Community, our events and the businesses and individuals that serve our community. You can read past issues to get a feel for the paper and if you enjoy it - it is only $15.70 a year to subscribe. Check it out at www.beltdrivebetty.com

Layton's progress has been two steps forward and one step back. Our friend and humor columnist has, as his wife Myrna describes it, been on a roller coaster of recovery.
You can follow his progress at: Back Road Scholar

Hubby goes for his MRI today, hopefully at his appointment later this week we will get some more answers. In the meantime we are on our own roller coaster ride in this house.

I hope all of the fathers out there had a great father's day and that their kids all called them - collect of course - LOL!

If you are riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you, stay hydrated and please use respect with that throttle hand.