Who knew there were so many

It seems that Sturgis North is only one of many rallies to use the Sturgis name, but there may be one less now.


In Kentucky, the Little Sturgis Biker Rally is canceled this year and may be for good. Apparently attendance fell from 22,000 to 8,000.


But who knew HOW many rallies use the Sturgis moniker?
Little Sturgis Rally - Kentucky


Sturgis North - Salmon Arm BC
Sturgis Roadshow - Traveling
Sturgis on the River/ Sturgis South - Mississippi
East Coast Sturgis Rally - Maryland


I had no idea that so many events wish to emulate Sturgis South Dakota!


In other news a 22 year old Nebraska man has plead guilty to 4 counts of vehicular homicide for drunk driving causing and causing the deaths of four riders.
A driver who killed a motorcyclist in the Bronx had 22  license suspensions!
And we wonder why the death rate is bad...sheese.


Like every day - I welcome your comments and feed back on the topics of the day!


There's a ton of other news out there today but because I was working on year end books until 3 am and consequently did not get up until 7:30 am - I need to get back to it.
Visit www.beltdrivebetty.com for your news fix - we sift through the news so you don't have to!


I have a ton of new RFBA members to get set up and month end to do today - only 8 days late! Oh well, it will be a great day as I will be one step closer to unburied from the January bike shows just in time to head to Red Deer next week!


Have a fabulous Friday everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

From the ridiculous to the down right obscene...

It would appear that farmers in Salmon Arm are up in arms because for 1 week, there will be a motorcycle event using some farm land for camping and RV parking - all of which are temporary but according to one farmer in Salmon Arm: (from the Salmon Arm Observer)

“There’s going to be motorhomes, garbage trucks, sewage vehicles – stick a few thousand people driving their motorcycles out there, there’s going to be concert stages,” he says of Sturgis North. “Nothing good can come out of this. Once you pack the dirt and take the oxygen out of it, you don’t get it back in to the shape it was in.”

Now I used to farm, my farm was certified organic - and I am here to tell you that having people camp and park RV's on the land is far less harmful to the land and it's oxygen and richness that anhydrous ammonia, pesticides and herbicides that are dumped on these lands in a big way. How do you restore  a field after people have camped on it? Simple - by tilling the crap out of it. How do you restore soil that has been burned by chemicals?  It takes 3 - 5 years to restore a field to be able to sustain any meaningful growth without the aide of fertilizers by using crop rotation methods to build the soil up again etc. And don't even get me started on the contamination of the ground water caused by the "Modern" way of farming.

Me thinks that the vocal few are trying to terrorize and strike fear into the hearts and souls of those who are less educated about such matters as farming. For those wishing to educate themselves a wee bit on farming practices : http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/orgfarm_of%20vs%20con%20fasrming.html

In other places across the country and around the world our chosen method of transportation and lifestyle is under attack as well.

Look at Brazil - the government there wants to ban motorcycle taxis and right here in Canada - in Ontario - a proposed motorcycle campground is taking a lot of heat.

Bragg Creek AB is looking at implementing a noise bylaw - the issue started with motorcycles but they are looking at having an all encompassing bylaw.

In Grand Rapids MI- the hopes of a group that wanted to host a 4 day rally were dashed and now they need to look at plan B.

Look at cities like Moncton that have decided, since Atlanticade moved out because of the lack of accommodation - that they will host their own event. Or provinces like Nova Scotia that have seen Motorcycle Tourism become a huge industry.

I guess no matter which way you cut it, no matter where we go, there will be people who embrace and welcome our community and then there will be those who would like to run us out of town. It depends on our community and what we are gonna do about these situations and how we are going to conduct ourselves. We can either boycott towns and events at the expense of the event organizers and the locals that really want us or we can go in full steam and prove to them that we are respectful of their communities and appreciative of a place to hold our rallies and festivals.

The choice truly is ours no matter what the neigh sayers may think.

Like with anything in life - you have ONE CHANCE to make a GOOD IMPRESSION.

As always I would love your feedback on the topics of the day! Get in on the discussion here in my blog, on Facebook or in the forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com
Talk to me people - even when I disagree with you I learn so much and I appreciate the chance to grow and expand.

In Other News:
In Courtney on Vancouver Island BC they are reporting that drug and other serious crimes are down and the focus is going to shift to unnecessary motorcycle noise and bicycle safety

In London England a new self service motorcycle facility is slated to open soon.

In Myrtle Beach SC they are looking at increasing the acceptable decibel level from 89 to 92 in an effort to be in line with industry standards. Hmmm or is it to stave off lawsuits?

Dayton OH is being hit hard by the recession - the number of motorcycle dealerships closing is unreal

There are a ton of other news items that you may want to read over at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to - not to mention it is voting time in the Beat the PMS Blues on line Show 'n' Shine - have your say on the bikes you like and which ones will take away the prizes!

Have a fabulous Wednesday everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

Charges laid in two high profile Motorcycle Crashes

Ottawa Senators Doctor Donald Chow was injured in a motorcycle crash in 2010. The 73 year old woman that hit him, Lois Thompson has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act with one count of making an unsafe turn.

And the man responsible for the death of Liberal Aide, Mario Lague, is a 49 year old man from Gatineau QC -  Guiseppe Oppedisano, he was charged with dangerous driving causing death on January 13th.

I want to remind every rider to be hyper aware and extra vigilant this coming riding season.

Last year was a hard year on our community - it is one of the reasons that the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association has agreed to set up a fund to aide riders in the event of a crash.

The fund will provide a no interest loan to assist with out of pocket expenses until insurance starts to pay a rider back. Once the rider has proceeds coming in they are asked to repay the fund so the next rider can be assisted. This is a stop gap measure and only meant for the regions that have no organized or structured support network and not meant to duplicate the services of AIM in BC,Biker Down Society in Nova Scotia or FIRRE in Southern Alberta. Riders from or in those regions needing assistance will be directed to the organized groups. (AIM may be opening an Ottawa Chapter)

Belt Drive Betty has teamed up with Intercon Messaging to assist riders in staying safe.

Intercon Messaging offers the NEVER RIDE ALONE program for our members - similar to the Never Work Alone Programs, members of www.beltdrivebetty.com (the Biker's Discount Buying Club)  - can call the toll free number (1-866-765-6718) - they will be asked a series of quick questions, asked to check in when they stop for fuel - and should they not arrive at their destination within 15 minutes the service will call the numbers the rider leaves for contact. If after two calls the rider can not be reached, Intercon will be dispatching 911 services to find you.

The other wonderful tool we have to offer members of the BDB Club (Biker's Discount Buying Club) is the Best Roadside Assistance Program. Belt Drive Betty has teamed up with Best Roadside to offer our members exclusive pricing - for only $89.50 per year you get 6 calls, and they include fuel, lock out, towing and more...those calls are share able between you and your spouse and transferable between your pick up, car and motorcycle. They offer bilingual service - the support is good for Canada and the Continental USA (with many of the same service providers of the big boys like (CAA & AAA) and it comes with additional travel perks on top of the BDB Club Perks and those of  our Rider Friendly Business Association Members!

Membership on www.beltdrivebetty.com is free - if you decide you want a hard card and phone book for the RFBA Businesses for your Saddle Bags you can either pick one up for free at many of our oartner businesses, at any of the motorcycle shows and events that we attend or you can pay a small shipping and handling fee and we will mail you one. If you want to just download and laminate your own card you can do that as well because our phone book is available to our members in a mobile format at www.beltdrivebetty.mobi 

Don't forget our Canadian Riders Support Network either - it's free to become a member and provide assistance to your fellow rider who is broke down or otherwise needing assistance and you can access the information on the mobile site, through the printed phone book or the toll free number!

This riding season stay safe and protected with the BDB Club and it's partners of the RFBA and save money on your travel accommodations, meals and more.

In Other News:

The new book "Biker Chicz" by Winterhalder and De Clercq’s is now available world wide.

In Montreal dozens of bikers are calling for a stop to the mega trial of Hells Angels member citing everything from "abuse of procedures, impossibility of mounting a defence, unreasonable delays and illegality"

Harley-Davidson opened regional offices in Dubai

Ducati and art just got a whole lot closer to merging

The Ninja is reviewed as is the Triumph Thunderbird

And a Ducati and a Ferrari go head to head - which one wins the race?

Have a FANTASTIC day everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

Another bylaw based on the J2825 in court and being reviewed

Nothing like a few court cases to tell the powers that be that it is time to go back to the drawing board.

The MIC in the USA and MMIC in Canada (Motorcycle Industry Council and Motorcycle Moped Industry Council) funded the flawed and near fatal J2825 noise test created by the Society of Automotive Engineers. I say the test is flawed because there are humans doing the testing and based on their degree of interest in their jobs, many, inspite of the training they have received do not appear to know how to administer the test properly.  There are, in my humble and far from expert opinion, a lot of areas for challenge with the test from who is doing the testing, to where it is done and how it is done.

In Myrtle Beach - the town fathers and mothers are facing a lawsuit from the area hotels, Horry County and numerous motorcycle groups and a local Harley-Davidson dealer.

Pleas are going out to riders to NOT give Myrtle Beach what it wants:

(From the South Carolina Criminal Defense Blog)

I've heard some people say in protest of the new ordinances, "I just won't come to Myrtle Beach, I won't spend my money there." Please - if this is what you are thinking then you are giving city council exactly what they wanted. You lose. They win. If these ordinances piss you off, come to Myrtle Beach loud as you want and do not let them push an entire group of people out and destroy a Myrtle Beach tradition with these types of tactics. The city knew when it passed these ordinances that they were not constitutional and there were going to be problems.

Mike Wright, from Maryland, says he thinks the new laws should prompt every biker in the country to head to Myrtle Beach. "Every biker. And bring their helmets, and obey their laws, and crush this place. Crush it. Just to make a point. You're not going to mess with our right to lawfully have a good time."

There is nothing like a lawsuit to make people reconsider their stance on something that is discriminatory and make no mistake - just because here in Canada our charter only looks at race, religion and sexual orientation as far as protection under the Charter - the Motorcycle only noise by law in Edmonton is as discriminatory as it gets. Holding one segment of road users to a different standard than others is really a discriminatory practice under the definition of discrimination.

From the Mirriam Webster Dictionary: Definition of DISCRIMINATION

1 a : the act of discriminating 

  b : the process by which two stimuli differing in some aspect are responded to differently 

2:  the quality or power of finely distinguishing 

3 a : the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually 

  b : prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment discrimination>

Although the style of discrimination that motorcyclists are regularly subjected to may not be covered under the Charter here in Canada - it is still illegal and it is for sure immoral.

Brothers and sisters of the family wind in Canada - do you think there is any chance that we can muster up some cash, a lawyer and some sustained, quiet anger and fight the city of Edmonton?

Remember their peace offering last week of free parking for motorcycles down town? 

Is it really a free offer or just another way to suck more money out of your jeans? 

How much are they going to make by charging you for parking? 

How much are they going to make if they ticket you for a loud exhaust?

I will be very interested to see if Edmonton city council reads the news from other places where these discriminatory bylaws have been put in place. 

I hope the riders of the USA and South Carolina in particular nail Myrtle Beach to a cross and that when they are done, they move the rally just outside the city to prove a point. 

But hey, that's just my righteous indignation talking folks...

In other news:

In India, Harley-Davidson is celebrating having sold 250 motorcycles

In Britain there is a new electric motorcycle coming to market

Also in Britian, the Hairy Bikers are interviewed for their new cooking show on BBC2

In Italy, despite best efforts the Moto Morini will be no more

In Australia, riders hosting a charity run for their flood ravaged country get to see the devastation first hand

And in the US, the guys I love to hate and NEVER watch are getting better ratings than ever because of their very public personal "war" and Discovery Channel is loving it.

Well that's what's on my mind today - like every day I hope to hear your thoughts on the topics at hand.

I do have a special request though - if you can spare a few bucks, PLEASE - PLEASE, PLEASE consider donating to the Australian Flood Relief Fund - we have a link on the right hand side of the home page at www.beltdrivebetty.com

So far we only have one $50 donation - that will feed a family of four for 2, maybe three days folks.

I am hoping to see a wee bit of Canadian and Biker Compassion and Caring.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

What is up with that?

First they come out with a draconian Motorcycle Only noise bylaw and now they want to give motorcyclists free parking? Cereal? What would drive the city of Edmonton to be so generous?

In Vancouver, Jay Dobyns - the American Cop turned Hells Angel infiltrator spoke to an "Enthralled" audience about the leniency shown the Hells Angels in BC - Dobyns was the keynote speaker Thursday at the Vancouver Gangs and Guns Symposium for police and educators.

Dobyns said the sharing of law-enforcement intelligence and strategies is essential to tackle the Hells Angels and other violent criminal groups. He was quoted in the Vancouver Sun stating:
“That is how the police win — when we cooperate with each other. We share our experiences. We share our successes. We share our failures. We share our intelligence. And that’s how good overcomes evil. That is how society survives.”

I recall saying that to the riding community on more than one occasion!

Also in BC - people are finally calling for a ban on cell phone use by the police and other emergency services persons citing that is hard for ordinary citizens to follow a law that the police and others don't.

In the US - Insurers have figured out that women are buying more motorcycles and since they tend to put in fewer claims than men do, they are beginning to offer discounts to women on their motorcycle insurance...hmmm - wonder when Canada will do the same.

Got lots of money? Want an ultra cool if slightly outdated dirt bike? Steve McQueen - the King of Cool's favourite dirt bike is going up for auction!

Also in the US - congress woman Gabrielle Giffords will be co chairing the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus - she is recovering  after being shot in the head during a shooting spree in a store in Arizona.

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

Voting for our show 'n' shine hit a bit of a snag yesterday - a technical glitch that Ali had to over come - most of the voting gallery is in and ready for votes - the remainder will go up this morning - sorry for the inconvenience but like all things computer related - sometimes things happen you don't expect. I am looking forward to the middle of next month when we see who wins in each category - we have some incredible machines for your viewing pleasure!

Have a fantastic Friday and an even better weekend!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

Riding in the snow - would you or wouldn't you

Yesterday on my Facebook page I got slammed a little for posting a video of a friend riding home after working a night shift - On her sporty - with her helmet cam on

In the video of my friend you could see she is running knobby tires on her sporty...

Some criticized - feeling that I was promoting riding in the snow and that it is unsafe and that since I am always promoting safety that I was wrong to post/share ii.

Now - in some regards they were right. I probably should have kept my amazed comment of good job to myself and not shared the video - I was mesmerized though - I really hadn't looked at it from the safety point of view. 

But now that the topic has been broached - I gotta tell you I am intrigued.

It would appear that there is a sub culture of people who don't just get caught in a snow storm and have to continue riding, but people who actually seek to ride on the snow and ice.

I found a whole host of articles that talk about cold weather and snow riding, these are just a sampling of the articles I found:

From Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine-

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/riding_in_cold_and_snow/index.html

From Lazymotorbike: http://www.lazymotorbike.eu/tips/weather/

 From Ice Road Bikers: http://motorcycleinfo.org/2008/08/ice-road-bikers/

From E How: http://www.ehow.com/how_2090059_ride-motorcycle-snow.html

From EZine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?Motorcycle-Riding-Tips:-Cold-And-Snow-Rides&id=5169024

From Redlegsrides: http://redlegsrides.blogspot.com/2007/12/side-wheels-for-heavy-motorcycles.html

MCN Magazine featured Snow Chains: http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2010/january/Biking-snow-chain-equivalent/

This article features a back right hand tire addition for the bike for stability: http://redlegsrides.blogspot.com/2008/11/sanokes-snow-outrigger.html

Ural riders seem to do a lot of snow riding - I know YKStorm in the NWT loves riding her Ural, through town, out on the ice roads and well - anywhere she'd ride her Harley in the summer.

Here's another interesting blog: http://www.mc-addict.com/aguidetowinterriding.htm

Here is a video of a guy riding his BMW on ice, in town: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gmDuJEAyuk

Now folks - I am in no way condoning anything here - I am attempting to

1: Educate myself as to the dangers of snow and ice riding. Being that I wear braces on both feet - there are a ton of things I would NEVER entertain doing myself. 

This is one of them I would not do, but I decided to educate myself on the topic.

I love going to the ice races and watching the riders fly around the road course, I admire the skill it takes to ride on the ice and snow. Living in the far North - not the Extreme North like many people I know in the Northwest Territory, I am used to seeing a certain number of riders here who take their bikes to work - in the snow, on crap roads. There are not many - three or four - but they exist.

2 - I am hoping to enlighten others - for I know many who live way up north that have side cars and will ride no matter what. But what I never gave thought to it - and I guess it is because of where I live - I never once really gave thought to the safety - because I have never heard of, read of a rider being injured in the winter except at the races and I have always been exposed to winter riders.

There are guys like Paul Mondor:  http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/PaulMondor.html

Paul is absolutely  passionate about riding in a snow storm. He calls the term "ride of a life time" an understatement to explain riding in the snow.

Here he is on a cruiser: http://www.bikerspost.com/video/paul-mondor-frozen-butt-tour?commentId=2153104%3AComment%3A351059&xg_source=activity

I don't get it - I don't have the guts - but he talks about the fear - as he calls it GUT WRENCHING fear like it is something to embrace - he talks about pushing the limits - challenging yourself.

Here he is on the news: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi8D4_L4nZ0

Here is info from the BMW rider page... http://www.bmwrvi.org/links/ 

Here is info on my friend Robin in the NWT and her Ural Side Car: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422290&page=5

Check out her video channels on YouTube, or web site, read some of her articles on the Polar Bear Ride on January 1st...

After hours of reading and watching videos I finally found some information on accidents involving motorcycles on ice and snow - Here is an Accident alert from an insurance company - it makes reference to the Cardiff Call Centre for AA: http://www.thermahelm.com/blog/blog-post/2010/12/08/motorcyclists-beware-snow-related-accidents-rocket.html

This info from a motorcycle training school : https://www.lrn2ride.com/the-joys-of-winter-motorcycle-riding/

From the female riding site: Ride my own... http://www.ridemyown.com/links/winter.shtml

One link on her site isn't working right - the AMA one, here is the right one: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Riding/Street/Resources/KeepingWarm.aspx 

From Bennett's in the UK: http://www.bennetts.co.uk/You-and-Your-Bike/Biking-Advice/Biking-Tips/Winter-Motorcycle-Riding-Tips/ 

Now folks - there are tons and tons more links like the ones I am giving you here - the Dneepers forums, the Adventure Riding Forums - heck there are even tours - mostly self guided that have been created for winter motorcycle tourism in the north.

I gotta tell yah - this is a sub culture of our community. Some do it far more prepared than others, but all seem to embrace the risk, the fear and for some they simply say: If I had to wait for a riding season, I would never get to ride.

Are they crazy? Are they foolhardy - I have no real answer to those questions. It is not something I would attempt but then again, with the braces on my feet, I wouldn't even attempt snowmobiling although I used to love it.

For the purposes of this blog post I stuck mostly to featuring North Americans, a number of them Canadians who seem to do and love the extreme, but if this topic at all intrigues you the way it did me well - go sign up for the ADVRider Forum - google or bing search motorcycles and snow, motorcycle riding in snow, snow riders or any other search term you can think of. You will find a vast array of difference in opinion on safety, on enjoyment, on skill and gear, accessories - in fact you will find a whole subculture from ice racers to road riders that think riding in the snow and ice is the cats arse!

(I also found that the number of bicycle riders who love to ride in the snow is also far more than I would have ever guessed had the thought ever truly crossed my mind.)

These riders who love riding so much, who embrace the adrenalin and as they call it - extreme gut wrenching fear - these people are either crazy or very skilled - or passionate or something....you either admire their accomplishments or shake your head at them - me - I think I fit in somewhere in the middle - mesmerized - amazed, awed and yet - would I attempt any of it? NOPE.

Canadians like Paul Mondor and the people who rode with him (3 riders - one of those riders rode across Canada both directions on his trip with Paul - his name is Steve Becraft : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogvxl46PX9g) and Robin from the NWT on her Ural to Mike Cole on his Harley riding across Canada in January for Diabetes Research...these are some extreme riders.

In closing I want to say that there is enough of a sub culture for snow and ice riding that an entire industry of cleats, studs, tire chains has evolved no to mention contraptions to add a third wheel or training wheels to your motorcycle or bike.

I never really gave it that much though before - the only times I have ridden in snow is during a storm on a road with no where safe to pull off. I am not that much of a die hard. I know my personal, physical limits.

I would love your feedback on this topic - Please note though - that I am neither condoning or bashing the snow and ice riders - this is about your opinions on the topic - would you ride on the snow and ice - ON PURPOSE? If yes - why and if no, why not.

Have a fantastic day - I gotta get to my other tasks...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

Left hand turn bill gets tabled...

There was an interesting article out of Utah this morning - it appears that at least one politician wants stiffer penalties for drivers who make reckless left hand turns that contribute to a fatal crash.

The bill has been withdrawn as other members of the hearing had concerns with changing only one section of the law - in Utah the ticket  for a “Failed to Yield Right of Way” violation is $90.

In Norfolk County the hospital that got a $1,600 donation from a Bikers Rights Group was some grateful!

In Vancouver - the young racer killed in Indianapolis, Peter Lenz is being memorialized with an athletic field.

Merritt BC's Great Canadian Bike Rally is heating up, check out their newsletter!

I have a ton of work today and need to get back at it so you all have a fabulous day!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com