And the winner is....

Scott from McCool's Street Bar & Grill phoned this morning with the information on the winning logo. "It was a tough decision, there are so many fabulous entries!" said Scott

In the end it was agreed by Scott and his staff that the logo on the left is the one that best represents his Bar & Grill.

Thank you to everyone who entered.

Congratulations to our member - SAS from
Olds AB!

You just won a $500 Gift Certificate to the dealership or shop of your choice!

In other news, there is an interesting story out of Tuk in the news feeds on www.beltdrivebetty.com - it would appear the love affair with Jesse James is on rocky footing.

If you are riding your motorcycle today, Please - ride like everyone around you is blind, stay hydrated and use respect when using the right hand.

Belt Drive Betty

A coordinated effort

For 6 years my dream, my goal has been to provide riders with a central clearinghouse of information. A place where you can go to find out the news about what's going on in motorcycling, where all of the events are etc...

Very soon, and I do mean VERY SOON, our web site will be relaunching and with it a whole whack of sharing tools that is going to make it easier than ever for riders to share what's shaking.

A while back we asked the question, what can we do to make the site better and overwhelmingly the response was make it more like Facebook - so - we are!

Some of the tools and functionality that will be available to we riders is going to rock your socks!

I got a sneak preview last night of all of the tools and components that Ali has been feverishly configuring for us.

I think you will be totally impressed.

I am so excited and can't wait until Ali gives me the word that we are ready to show it to you all!

Just a few more sleeps as long as no other major gremlins rear their ugly heads...

In other news, McCool's Street Bar & Grill has not been able to decide on their logo winner. Scott says he and his staff are still debating between a couple. He promises an answer very soon.

I look forward to seeing which of the over 50 entries has been chosen.

It's cold, gloomy and raining her in GP - good thing I have a lot of paperwork to do here!

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.

Belt Drive Betty

Wow!

Man - you guys are pretty terrific!

I have a 94 Fatboy to ride and an airplane ticket coming...how's that for a quick overhaul of plans!

So there you go, sometimes you just have to ask for help.

The news feeds were nothing short of depressing this morning. So many riders who are loosing their lives. There were a few good stories in the main stream news - but as usual, mostly sad and negative.

The paper is locked up and at the printers...I need three people who like doing sales. If you have a computer and a phone, that's all you need. We pay a decent commission and I sure need the help>

It's cold here in GP, been raining off and on all morning, so guess no parking lot time for me today.

If you are lucky 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

Changing plans...

Well, originally I was going to ride from Grande Prairie to Wasaga Beach Ontario for the Chrome Diva's International Female Ride Day on July 25th.

However, hubby has been on this roller coaster with his health and so I looked into flying to Toronto and renting a bike. Looks like that is what I'll be doing.

I was really looking forward to a 4,000 km ride one way but the time away from home with hubby in the shape he's in, no - can't be gone that long.

Rocky's in London has a Street Glide I can rent for the weekend with unlimited kilometers and with airfare so cheap I can do the whole trip, bike rental included for under a $1,000

So, I won't set any mileage records on my own machine this year but hey- I am still riding and right now that counts for a lot.

I spent some time in the parking lot just up the street from my house practising the Ride Like a Pro Techniques.

I can now ride over a two by four with out spitting it out and the 12' cone weave, I actually am getting that...after practice, I went to the local Timmy's to hand out some fliers for our upcoming Ride to Peace River for AIM-Can & Ride for Dad...I still had the foam on my crash bars and I was amazed at how many people knew what I was up to.

"You were practicing the Ride like a Pro?" And we now have 4 or 5 people geared up for some time in the college's parking lot to practice and help each other. I was amazed at how many men were willing to admit they needed to know more and become better riders!

That I know of now, at least 15 people in the area have bought the DVD's and only one remembered to ask for the discount that Motorman offers BDB Club Members...

I am excited to be learning new skills - lifelong learning is important to staying young and healthy!

Ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you, stay hydrated and PLEASE, use some respect and restraint with that right hand...

Belt Drive Betty

Have you ever?

Have you ever heard of Hogs on the High Seas - the biker cruise started by Dean and Debbie Anderson in the US?

Well, some people here in Canada decided it was high time that Canadian riders have their very own biker cruise. I have been looking at the itinerary and I have to say it sounds like fun.
Much more mellow than the HOHS type of rally and they want to do it in February - way better timing wise for we in the frozen north than the November HOHS cruise. After you get done off the HOHS cruise you still have a lot of winter ahead of you.

The HOHS cruise is on Royal Caribbean and this new cruise will be on a Carnival ship.

So, I have a question for you - is a cruise with fellow riders, that ends just as Daytona Bike Week is getting ready to start something that interests any of you? Have you been on a cruise before?

I think that a Canadian's Cruise to the eastern Carribean in February would be a great answer to the winter doldrums...I would love to hear your thoughts...

If you are one of the lucky ones who is riding this weekend, please ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you, stay hydrated and please use respect with that throttle hand!

Belt Drive Betty

Alberta RCMP and motorcyclists!, what's the truth in what's going on?

Under the guise of July being Motorcycle Safety Month, the RCMP here in Alberta are giving you a warning - they don't say it in the press release that I can tell, it's not written anywhere that I can find - but be prepared, if you ride a motorcycle YOU will be stopped, jacked up - whatever you want to call it! It is what has happened in the past and I don't believe it will change any time soon.

"July is Motorcycle Safety Month, and Alberta RCMP will be teaming up with enforcement partners to reduce motorcycle collisions this summer.

Although speed and alcohol are often behind motorcycle collisions, driver inexperience is also a major factor. The RCMP stress that it’s extremely important for new and returning drivers to develop their safe operation skills, especially after a long winter. This may include driver training courses, using bikes that are suitable for their skill level and wearing proper safety gear."

Remember the provincial Motorcycle Awareness campaign month is MAY...???
The goal they claim is to reduce motorcycle collisions - Maybe to some degree, they do have radio ads and newspaper ads to that effect but...

In my humble opinion, the RCMP are setting aside the month of July again to ensure helmets, pipes, handlebars, lights, plates etc are up to snuff. So be prepared, if you aren't wearing a DOT helmet, if your pipes are too loud, if your plate is not attached to the bike as prescribed by law, if your handle bars are too high, YOU WILL find yourself the target of enforcement services in this province.

Maybe my interpretation of what I read in the article is wrong. Maybe they really do only want to reduce fatalities - but, the RCMP are not in a position to tell you if you can handle your machine, there are no mandatory courses to take - only voluntary - and how do they know if your gear is safe...so, you tell me - what are they doing by declaring July Motorcycle Safety Month?

I shake my head at what I view as the lame attempt to hide the full measure of what they are up to. Why don't they just tell it like it is?

Maybe, just maybe I am wrong - wouldn't that be nice if I was!

I hope you have a wonderful day today and please, if you are riding today, ride like everyone around you is blind, stay hydrated, be respectful with that throttle hand and don't do anything that gives the RCMP or other police services any reason to stop you...

Belt Drive Betty

Special Announcement from McCool's Street Bar & Grill

Scott from McCool's just called to say he and his staff are overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of the entries in his Logo Contest.

He promises a decision some time on Saturday! So stay tuned!