A Little Education on the MC World

I write this article with respect to all and to help educate those who want to understand a little of the MC world.  My knowledge is most likely not complete as I am female and not privy to several things in the male only MC world, but what I have learned and know to be true is what I am sharing with you today. Please visit the links I provide to further educate yourself.

As long as there are people, this world will always be a place filled with ego, hidden agendas and subterfuge and on the other side, honesty, integrity and loyalty.

There are good cops who do their jobs with integrity just as there are bad ones.  There are good priests who don't go around molesting young boys just as there are those who do harm.  There are good politicians who truly want to make a positive difference and others who lie and manipulate, cheat and steal.  There are good bikers, riders and enthusiasts who just want to ride and do good and there are those who do bad and also ride.

In the cruising-touring segment of the motorcycle community there are so many political mine fields to walk through, largely due to the mis-information doled out by the police, the main stream media and the people involved in the motorcycle clubs.

Our community has grown so fast, here in Canada, in 2003 there were 350,000 registered for highway use motorcycles, that number in 2013 was just over 700,000.

With that growth comes ignorance of our culture and traditions. And no, I am not being demeaning.
It is up to the "Old Guard" to teach the young ones, the new ones and remind the returning ones, how the motorcycle community is structured and why.

There used to be a time when I could walk into any biker rally and by scanning the patches of the people around me, I knew who was who and where I wanted to be.  Not so today.  Today our patches and colours have a diluted hierarchy, a muddying of the colours so to speak.  And that alone is enough to cause tension. We have laws and bylaws that see patch holders forced to remove their cut in order to go into a drinking establishment or licensed event.  Now you really are in a mine field.

We are human and as such, many of us seek others of like mind to share the connection the ride provides.

Many who are drawn to the motorcycle community are "A" type personalities, independent thinkers and consequently we often times don't play well with others.  Hence, almost every day of the week a new club is springing up or one is shutting down, generally over disagreements on how a club should be run or by a dominant who will not allow a certain cut to be present.

My article yesterday on my time with the Snow City Crew of the Iron Order Motorcycle Club has stirred some controversy, mostly from members of other MC's in the US and Ontario.  These people accuse the Iron Order MC of being a cop club, and with the recent shooting of a Black Piston's MC  patch holder by a prospect of the IO MC, well let's just say things in the US look set to get real ugly.

The Black Pistons MC is a support club of the Outlaws MC.

Let's get a little bit of a history lesson going on here...

Motorcycles have been embraced by people of all walks of life, including women, since their inception, but our community experienced a huge shift and growth after World War II.
Not unlike the one it has seen in the last ten years.

You hear the term "Brotherhood" used a lot in the community, but many don't understand the term, at least not fully and not as it is uniquely meant in our community.

Many men returning from the war after serving in combat units that were tight knit brotherhoods came home and felt like islands.  No one in the civilian world could relate to them and the horrors they saw and sometimes committed in the name of war.  After all no one in the civilian world had ever relied upon another man to have his back and keep him safe.  No one in the civilian world had experienced the deep fear, the deep gratitude and the deep sorrow of war in the way these men had, so how could they understand them?

Not unlike our soldiers today, these men, many of them suffered from what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

They grew up in a time when men didn't complain, they didn't share their emotions much and no one recognized PTSD for what it was.  The only people they were comfortable with were those that they didn't have to explain anything to - their fellow soldier.  Many of the original "Outlaw" Clubs were founded by ex service men and ex police officers. They do after all share a similar "Brotherhood" in their jobs.  The man on the battlefield that does not put his brother before himself was considered a coward and generally didn't last long in combat.  Your very life relied on the man behind you, beside you and in front of you.  You ate together, worked together and protected each other in ways your own biological family members would never dream of, hence the term "Brotherhood".

Many of these men of like mind and experience also self medicated by partying, to put themselves as far away from the horrors and nightmares as they could.  We see the same issues today.

The infamous Hollister riot of July 4th 1947 is what gave rise to the term 1% Outlaw Biker.
According to history, the Gypsy Tour Motorcycle Rally Revival event, an AMA sanctioned event saw way more bikers than in years preceding the war. The small 4,500 person town was swelled to over flowing and as happens with large groups of intoxicated people, their were fights, drunk riders stunting and racing, people sleeping on the streets and anywhere they could lay their head down as there was a huge shortage of accommodations.(We all know that much of the Hollister  story was staged by the media).

The AMA was erroneously attributed with the following statement that many believe is the beginning of the term 1% and Outlaw being used in our community:
"The trouble was caused by the one per cent deviant that tarnishes the public image of both motorcycles and motorcyclists" and that the other ninety-nine per cent of motorcyclists are good, decent, law-abiding citizens."
Nontheless that is the Urban myth about how Outlaws MC's and 1%ers got their name.

The truth is that many of these men formed clubs after this event in retaliation to the way the AMA treated them and their hard partying ways.

Traditional MC's that are sanctioned by the AMA or CMA here in Canada sometimes sport a three piece patch and are law abiding clubs.  In the 1980's many clubs did choose to sew their top and bottom rockers to their center patch to differentiate themselves and some adopted MCC as part of their name, while others kept the MC.  Many AMA sanctioned MC's are actually racing clubs....

The Yonkers MC is the Oldest known MC formed in 1903, they started as a bicycle club.  

They are what is termed a Traditional MC: Wear a three piece patch, are AMA Sanctioned, a men's only club, the adhere to a strict code of conduct. It is not clear if they require a prospecting phase.

The 13 Rebels Motorcycle Club is another one of the oldest MC's around, founded in 1937 and was founded by 13 top AMA racers, again, wears a one piece patch, AMA sanctioned and men only.  Their moto is: "Not to bully the weak. Not to fear the powerful."  They adhere to a strict code of conduct. Although they wear a one piece patch, their code is similar to that of the traditional 3 piece patch clubs.

Another MC sanctioned by the AMA is the Wingmen who have been around since the late 70'S

http://www.9339mc.com/index.html, they wear a three piece patch, have a strict code of conduct and require a prospecting phase.

Confused yet?

MOST but not all Outlaw motorcycle clubs started out as motorcycle clubs with a drinking/partying problem.  They simply wanted to have what they deemed to be fun.

The Boozefighters MC were founded by "Wino" Willie Forkner after he was ousted from the 13 Rebels MC for his rowdy ways.  They were formed in 1946 and started with the philosophy of Ride, Party & Brotherhood.  There in lie the major differences in the Traditional AMA sanctioned MC's and  the non AMA sanctioned Outlaw MC's.

Family oriented, but hard partying describes most Outlaw MC's, many consider themselves to be basically law abiding but all will defend their families, their brotherhood and their country.

What ties these clubs together under the banner of Outlaw is their prospecting period. YOU EARN your patch, you don't just buy it.  The patch is club property and it is a privilege to wear it and the responsibility of every prospect and patch holder to protect that property.  

These types of clubs seldom if ever claim a territory.

1%er MC's are yet again different. They not only wear the three piece patch and have a prospecting phase, but they generally sport the 1% diamond on their chest. Not only are these MC's not sanctioned by the AMA but they claim territory.  

The Outlaws MC were formed in 1935 originally as the American Outlaws Association

The Hells Angels MC were formed in 1948 

The Bandidos MC were formed in 1966 

NOT ALL Outlaw Clubs are 1% Clubs, but all 1% Clubs ARE Outlaw Clubs.

So now that we have a little bit of history on who and how Outlaw MC's are and came to be, and you are thoroughly confused - let's get on with the Iron Order MC controversy.

It is my understanding that the 1% MC world resents the Iron Order for primarily two things: 

1) not asking permission to exist from the dominant clubs and not following CoC Protocols especially since they are not AMA sanctioned.

2) they are considered by many a cop club because they allow law enforcement officers as members if they can pass the prospecting phase and one of their founding members was a cop.

There are deep rivalries and hatreds in the US in particular when it comes to this MC and they were not made any better by the shooting in Jacksonville that took place last week.

The entire Outlaw MC world is a mine field.

Many Veteran's MC's are Outlaw MC's that have a prospecting phase and allow police officers in their fold.

Many Police MC's are Outlaw MC's in that they require a prospecting phase and sport a three piece patch and some of those MC's have been known to conduct themselves as if they were 1% clubs.

Our community is fraught with politics and pressure from the outside and the inside.

The fighting amongst the MC's can turn deadly in a heart beat and remember, many of the people drawn to these types of clubs have military, police and fire fighting backgrounds and generally the muscle to back up their point when in an altercation.  

You do not have to be a "criminal" club to get caught up in the worst of situations, you do that by putting that patch on your back.  Even when you ask permission of a local dominant and get it, that doesn't mean that when you travel you have the right to wear your patch in their territory,  or so I am told.

Many clubs that have started in the last 10 years or so have not followed the protocols of going to the dominant of their region before sporting their cut, some because they didn't know that was protocol (there's that whole education thing) and some because they do not believe that in the land of the Free, the home of the Brave, that they should have to.  That is because many of them have military or police service time in their background and feel they fought for their right to be who and what they are.  Some clubs don't agree with that mind set.

Their argument is who did the Hells Angels, the Bandidos, the Rebels, the Outlaws or any other club pre 1988 ask permission of for their right to exist?

The CoC that set out the protocols was founded in 1988, in Canada they are the Ontario Confederation of Clubs and in the US - NCOM National Coalition of Clubs 

That causes tension, like it or not.

If you choose to wear the cut of an Outlaw Club, then you need to be prepared for the day when, not IF, you have to defend that cut and your brothers and yes, that can mean with your life.

If you are what is termed a Law Abiding MC, that means little if a member from a territorial club resents your presence and decides to "handle" things.  

This is a man's world, one where violence is justified as protection of one's patch, brother and territory first and foremost.  All men on both sides of the fence swear an oath to their club and their brothers.  And whether any of them get the irony of it all or not, they will all die to defend what they believe in.

The irony of the situation from a female's perspective is that they are separated by so little.

They have far more in common than they might think, but grudges, personalities and other forms of rivalry abound.

They all believe in Freedom, Brotherhood, Family, Loyalty, Integrity.  They all EARN their patches, and they are all rebelling against society and its structure in one way or another. And yet, so many can't stand each other.

It is not a world for the faint of heart.  It can get ugly. Very ugly.  But no matter who I have ever talked to be they Outlaw MC or 1% MC member, they all feel the same way, their membership in the club of their choice is as essential to them and their lives as breathing is for the rest of us.

The rivalry, the angst, the political issues aside, every man I have ever met that has taken the steps to hang around, prospect and ultimately become a patch holder says the club has changed their life and given them something that was missing in their lives.

There are many who THINK they seek that kind of brotherhood. There are few who make the grade.  

And that my friends is what I know about the MC world.

Have a safe day...

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

The Iron Order Motorcycle Club, Who are they REALLY?

Google the name of the Iron Order Motorcycle Club and you will see all sorts of articles on how they are a mail order club, how they are a joke in the MC world, how they are a "Pig" or "Cop" club, or an SOA wanna be club, but who are they really?

I have come to understand somethings about Internet research and that is that there are those out there with hidden agendas and that when researching anything you have to dig hard to find any sort of balanced perspective or truth that isn't tainted. First hand knowledge coupled with solid research is what I attempt to deliver always.

A few years back there was a chapter of the Iron Order MC in Edmonton that was filled with men who had an agenda that was contrary to the one of the mother chapter, one that wasn't pretty and it hurt the reputation of this MC deeply in the Edmonton area.

I was privy to that version of the club, and I had a first hand knowledge that didn't sit well with me.

When I was invited to come and get to know the Snow City Crew, I was filled with trepidation, but the man who invited me is someone I knew and respected, and so I decided that I would not let fear prevent me from seeing first hand the difference between this new version of the Edmonton Chapter and the old one.

Left "Uke" now Chapter President and
 Right, Tom "Kanga" Mincone

I rode to Valleyview, Alberta to meet up with my escort on Friday, June 27th with a lot of questions running through my head.  What was I getting myself into?  Were these people going to be different from those I had the displeasure of running into in the past? Was I nuts for agreeing to join them for their gathering? What was my escape plan to be?

Tom "Kanga" Mincone was the man who had invited me to come meet the Edmonton chapter and some of the other members of the club from BC at a gathering just north of Sherwood Park.

There were two other riders with Tom, one was Carl from Young's Point, he used to own Carl's Repairs in De Bolt, and now works in Valleyview, (I have known Carl for about 3 years) and the other gent, Mike, was just a rider who decided to travel with us for a bit.

The weather was perfect, the ride uneventful and yet my nerves were still on edge and all of my spider senses were on high alert.

We stopped just outside of Sherwood Park for a break and Tom gave me the option of checking into my hotel room first to drop off my gear before going to the gathering, but I opted to keep my gear with me, just in case I didn't like what I saw or if I felt uncomfortable - it's easier to escape a situation when you don't have to try navigating a city you don't know well and all of your gear is with you!

We pulled into the acreage where the gathering was being held, and I was greeted by a group of people who seemed genuinely pleased that I had come to meet them.

As I was introduced to the crew, I assessed each person based on their handshake, or hug and the look in their eyes.

The spider senses calmed down and before long I found myself relaxing.


It truly didn't take a long time to realize that this version of the MC was night and day different from the previous one and I was curious and eager to learn more about the people I was meeting.

A Little History on the IOMC, Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & 1% Motorcycle Clubs:

The Iron Order MC was founded in 2004, long before the era of Sons of Anarchy which will be going into it's 7th season this fall. One Internet myth debunked (it was one myth about this club I already knew to be untrue).

The IOMC was formed by a group of 8 men in a garage on Independence Day - July 4th in the US.

The IOMC was founded as a traditional Outlaw MC, with the principles and values that Outlaw MC's were founded with back in the 50's and 60's.

The IOMC has over 300 chapters world wide.

The IOMC offers their support gear for sale to anyone, but any MC specific gear is only available to club members. (Another Internet myth debunked - they are NOT a mail order club, you really do have to earn your patch!)

The COC - (Confederation of Clubs) that sets out certain protocols for MC's, was founded in 1988.

An Outlaw MC is a club that is not registered with the AMA, CMA or FIM.

An Outlaw MC is not necessarily a 1% MC and while they share some similarities, they are two very different types of organizations.

For more in depth history on Patches, Clubs and MC basics visit http://www.rcvsmc.net/id30.html

Now, back to my attendance at the gathering in Sherwood Park...

The party area was all set up with port 'o' potties, generators and light stands, fire pit, tents and picnic tables and chairs...it looked just like any one of the hundreds of events I have attended in my lifetime.

I was introduced to the officers of the Snow City Crew:
Cheezy, the chapter President, Uke, the VP, next up was Hula, the Sgt. at Arms, Legend, the Ride Captain and last but not least the VIP of the event, international Nomad, Klink from Kentucky.

I then was introduced to members Mahigan, Diamond, Rig Pig, Pylon & Prospect Darren.  I was also introduced to the ladies, the Iron Maidens, Dar, Beans, Missy and so many more whose names I simply cannot remember (sorry ladies, it was all a blur!)

The spread put on by the chapter was the same type of spread I have had at many a gathering, hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, watermelon, brownies and cookies, potato chips, pop, water, and alcoholic refreshments.

One by one, I chatted with these people, broke bread with them, shared road stories, beverages and observed them.

At about midnight, the Vancouver Island chapter, the Big Rock Crew, rolled in as did Neptune from the Washington state chapter. I was introduced to Zapp, Canuckles, Tork, Ko Tao, Prospect Glen and hang around Chris. With the BC crew was a gal named Jenn, the girlfriend of the chapter president Canuckles.

Prospect Darren

Prospect Darren was busy making sure everyone had beverages and offering to assist those who had gear that needed to be dried out (the gang from BC had ridden in rain pretty much the whole way in).
More food was put on the BBQ, the tunes were rocking, conversations were swirling all around me and then the first of many revelations came to me as to what was off about this particular biker party...unlike some I have attended...

NO WHERE could you smell the distinct aroma of marijuana, no one was sneaking off into the bushes or to trailers to partake in any other kind of substance,  here were no obnoxious drunks, everyone was too busy, talking, sharing and dancing to the great tunes coming from the DJ's table. No one drove home impaired as there were DD's and cages on hand and at the ready.

There were no vendors, there were no attitudes, there was no angst....

INTERESTING.

At about 1 AM, Prospect Darren and Kanga rode me into Sherwood Park and my room at the Franklin Inn, they ensured that everything was taken care of with the hotel and then helped me pack my gear upstairs.  We all went back downstairs and the guys told me of the plans for the morning and told me they'd be by to pick me up and escort me to the breakfast at 9:30 am.  Prospect Darren had to get back to the gathering spot because he needed to get the grounds cleaned up and ready for the next afternoon.

I went back upstairs to my room and got ready for bed, mulling over in my mind the things I had witnessed and taken in.

I was up early, had a snack in the hotel's breakfast room, checked the oil in my bike, rode over to the gas station and fuelled up, and then got all of the cameras mounted on my bike so I could film our ride later in the day. When the guys rode up, promptly at 9:30am, I was already sitting on my bike and ready to go. We rode to Smiley's where the breakfast was being held, there were already a few bikes there and by the time 10 AM and breakfast time rolled around, the one side of the lot was occupied by about 25 bikes.

The restaurant had tables ready for us in the pub, the waitress who obviously knew this crew of people, at least the Edmonton Chapter, was smiley and friendly and the service and food were excellent.

I headed outside to have an after breakfast smoke, only to have Prospect Darren open the door for me.  I chatted with him and a few others about the ride plan for the day along with the weather forecast which was not pleasant. I witnessed this young prospect opening the door and greeting the Joe Q citizen patrons of the restaurant with a smile.  Pretty soon we were all gathered around Legend, the Ride Captain as we prepared to leave on a ride around the region.

Hang around Chris on Dar's bike,
because his battery crapped the bed!

This was an open ride and so the ladies in the chapter who ride their own and had the time off joined us.  All of the ladies who don't ride their own but wanted to join us were on the back of their man's bike, we were all eager for the ride to begin.  Riding smiles were on the faces of all in attendance.

I was impressed with the road captain and his comments, questions and directions.
The point riders did their job with a precision that any military person would find appreciation in and the tail gunner did his job in similar fashion. Sadly, while the morning started off wonderful, Mother Nature had other plans for us. Hard driving rain made for unpleasant riding and so at one of our stops it was decided to end the ride about an hour earlier than originally planned.

We got to the Canadian Brewhouse around 3 pm, had some snacks, warmed up and dried out.  Everyone scattered in different directions afterwards to get ready for the evenings festivities.
Some to their hotels or billet houses and others like myself, back to the party site.

Cheezy getting his Nomad Patch

That evening, after the BBQ, Nomad Klink announced some huge changes for the Snow City Crew.

President Cheezy was made the Canadian National Nomad, Uke moved up to Chapter President, Hula moved up as VP and will maintain the role of Sgt. at Arms for the time being.

After the celebration and speeches, it was agreed that we'd all go out to Alberta Beach in the morning for a ride.

Prospect Darren and his wife Emma took me to the hotel in their truck as I was too wiped to ride.
I was told that someone would come collect me in the morning to get my bike and then we'd ride as a group to breakfast at Smiley's. True to their word, Tork from the BC chapter came and grabbed me and we got on the bikes and headed to breakfast.  On the way to breakfast, Mother Nature decided we needed a refreshing and intense down pour laced with just enough hail to wake one up!

It was decided at breakfast that we'd just go back to the party site and spend time hanging out because the weather was positively vicious and didn't show signs of letting up any time soon.

By the late afternoon, the rain finally let up and I had the pleasure of interviewing, on video, international Nomad Klink, and then the newest and first Canadian Nomad, Cheezy, new chapter president Uke, Prospect Darren and Beans, Cheezy's wife and an Iron Maiden.

You'll be able to see those interviews as part of Episode 8 of Ride Like a Local, probably in October  or there about.

What I learned about the Snow City Crew Chapter of the Iron Order MC, is that the Chapter which stood up in March of 2013, is filled with ordinary people who all have one thing in common, a need for connection. As Nomad Klink put it, "Everyone needs a home, a place they feel they belong."

As I spoke with these people, I learned that the Iron Order MC is a Men's Motorcycle club, a brotherhood of men who respect and love each other as a chosen family.

They all have regular, everyday day jobs.

They respect and value their wives and significant others who have their own support club called the Iron Maidens.

They treat their prospects with respect.

They follow their own code: "My Brother Before Me".

They follow their own value system, one based on loyalty, honour, respect, integrity and honesty.

They don't care what brand of bike you ride.
They do ask that your motorcycle be a cruiser type of motorcycle, beyond that brand means nothing.
For those on sport bikes, there is an MC called the Iron Rockets that was started by the Iron Order MC, in order to share their values with all motorcyclist who were looking for a law abiding 3 piece patch club.

They don't care what your ethnicity is either, they care about your character and makeup as a man.

They (the Iron Order MC) require a criminal record check before you are accepted to the club. If you have had a history of any kind of spousal abuse, child abuse, drug abuse or any violent type of crime in the last 10 years, they will not consider you for membership.

They allow members from any walk of life and yes, that means that if a police officer has the right qualities and the desire, he can become a member, and just like any other member he starts as a hang around, must be sponsored by a full patched member and must prospect. They must be voted in by the full patched members of the club in order to get their centre patch.

They do not tolerate or condone the use or sale of illegal drugs.

The Iron Order MC says they are a brotherhood of people of like mind and that they offer an alternative to riders who might be looking for more than membership in a mail order, or manufacturer's riding club can offer without some of the risks of a 1% club.

If you are a male over 18 years old, ride a cruiser style motorcycle, have no criminal background and want to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself, the Iron Order MC invites you to come meet them, ask questions, research them.

If you want to wear a patch just for the sake of being in a club or because you want to be a tough guy, they suggest that this is not the club for you.

There are risks involved with wearing a 3 piece patch, and especially with one where you do not ask for permission of the "dominant" club in your region.

The Iron Order MC as a whole doesn't believe they should have to ask permission of a "dominant" club for the right to exist as an MC because "We are not in anyone else's business, we do not declare any territory and we are not members of the Confederation of Clubs and therefore do not adhere to the Confederation protocols, after all the Hells Angels and certain other MC's didn't ask permission to exist, they just came together as people of like mind and that's all we are, people of like mind. We respect every one's right to find the motorcycle home that is right for them and we respect all those who respect our right to exist."

The Canadian Chapters firmly believe in our Bill of Rights and Charter of Freedoms.

The Canadian Bill of Rights - enacted in 1960 is part of legislation but not part of the charter.
"I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind."
They believe in their fundamental right to be who they are, associate with whom they want and wear what they want. They also believe that is the God given right of every citizen.
They also understand that with such freedom comes huge responsibility.
To that end, they believe respect is earned and not through fear tactics but through their conduct and actions as men.

The Snow City Crew in particular chooses not to have a clubhouse for a few reasons, first and foremost they are a motorcycle club and often times a clubhouse means upkeep and chores and creates a situation where riding to the clubhouse becomes the majority of the riding that gets done.
These guys, love to ride and do so as often as possible.

The two most interesting interviews for me out of the 5 that I conducted, were the ones I had with Prospect Darren and Beans, Nomad Cheezy's wife and Iron Order Maiden lead for the Snow City Crew.

Darren is a manager with 60 people that are directly under him, he is married to a wonderful young gal named Emma.

From Darren's perspective, the club has made him a better boss, husband and man.
He says he now sees how being in service to those who are important in your life, your wife, your children, your employees, your community makes you more compassionate, understanding, considerate man and he feels every man and person can benefit from this kind of conduct.

Beans comments mirror Darren's statements, she says her husband has found a balance in his life that was never there before and that he is more present and more passionate about every aspect of his life.

The party their brothers held for them

Beans herself loves the sisterhood that comes with the Iron Maidens, and says that they are truly a good bunch of gals who are there to support each other in every aspect of their lives.

The head table

Missy and Mahigan tying the knot

The cake Dar made for them

The Snow City Crew has buried a member and celebrated another member's wedding, they have supported each other in the bad times and celebrated in the good times and they say that they look forward to more of that same sense of community and family, brotherhood.

Now, this group of people invited me to their very first "National" gathering in Canada and they could have all rehearsed what they wanted to tell me.  I know that and so do you.

I can honestly say after having spent time with this particular group of individuals, these people really seem to have something that is lacking in our society and country and that is a genuine love and respect for each other.


I found myself envying what they had because you could see it in their eyes, in their conduct.

I am not going to stand here and say that that is true for all other chapters of this organization, but it sure appears to be true for the Edmonton Chapter and it appeared to be the same with the Vancouver Island Chapter and the two representatives from Washington and Kentucky that I met.
I felt very comfortable and at home with these people.

There will always be someone a club misjudges, someone who is good at deception, who has a hidden agenda and who is good at pulling the wool over people's eyes.  People who stir and cause shit to satisfy their own ego's or need for power. Sadly, that is after all human nature.

There will always be those police officers who will judge and tar everyone by what they wear or ride and not their actions, the old "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck" analogy works well here.

There will always be those who have sour grapes because they didn't make the grade.
Those keyboard warriors wanting to tear down what they can't be a part of, or those who just want to appear more important than what they really are by spouting an opinion that is sweeping and blanketing like some of the bloggers out there do.

Unlike many of the other people who have written about this club, I have gone and spent time with some of them and feel that a good deal of what is written about the club as a whole is untrue, but I am also not naive enough to think that there won't be bad apples that walk among them.

I am not naive enough to think that there aren't risks in being involved in the 3 piece patch world, no matter your intentions or conduct as a whole,  you can't control the thoughts and opinions of other clubs and their members who won't agree with your right to exist in their world and they may want to push that point and you will have to defend yourself, your brother and your patch as a result.

I know that there was recently a shooting wherein a prospect of the Iron Order MC shot a full patched member of the Black Pistons MC in Jacksonville Florida after a brawl, the prospect reportedly was defending himself.  Reportedly the man never ran from the scene and owned up to the shooting right away.  There are rumours that the prospect is a former police officer, at this point, no names other than the deceased have been released, so until such time as they are proven true, the rumours the man was a former cop, is just that.

You can't control those in your own ranks with hidden agendas who will stir shit.

I do know, that these people from Edmonton and Vancouver Island absolutely put each other first.

There was a mishap in Edson where Prospect Chris dropped his bike and was transported to hospital by ambulance at about 6:30 in the morning on Monday the 30th. By 7:30 am 2 members were already on their way to go pick up his bike, and when he was released later in the day he was taken to a members home, a flight arranged to get him home and arrangements to have his bike repaired for later retrieval were already made.

Members of the Iron Order MC

Chris broke his wrist, cracked a rib and had some bruising of the pride.

So, how do I feel about the Iron Order MC?

Well, if the people I met this weekend from BC, AB, Washington and Kentucky are in anyway truly representative of what this club stands for, I'd say it had to be a pretty good MC for one wanting that kind of lifestyle shift.

For those reading this and thinking about joining this MC or any other.

There are risks and they are many from having police forces tarring you with a brush you haven't earned, to other clubs resenting you and your presence.  It's not an easy life, and it's not for everyone.

Research, meet them, judge for yourself if this is truly what you want.

Do the soul searching and be brutally honest with yourself.
Are you really prepared to defend your right to wear a patch? Are you prepared to be there to help your bother or his family? Are you sure you know the sacrifices and the rewards fully?

The beautiful thing about the motorcycle community is that there is a home for any rider looking for one, we are that diverse.

Be you Gay, Lesbian, Firefighter, Weekend Rider, Adventure Rider, Sport Bike Rider or what have you, if you need to feel a human connection and are looking for a club to be a part of, there are no shortage of options.

Get out and ride, meet people, find the home you seek but remember don't do to a fellow rider what the police and still so many in society do...read, but don't believe all the propaganda that is out there - find out for yourself, first hand, there is no better knowledge and remember to not tar the whole because of the actions of the few.

Just think about the noise bylaws and how we are judged by the actions of the few.

As the old saying goes, Judge ye not lest ye be judged.

What say you?

Happy Canada Day everyone and remember these words of wisdom....

“Freedom is never an achieved state; like electricity, we’ve got to keep generating it or the lights go out.” Wayne LaPierre

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

Scared right off the road, why riders need to unite.

Out of Australia there is a story on just how bad the Anti-Bikie laws there are hurting the motorcycle industry in their country.

Travis Windsor

According to the article and the gentleman interviewed in it, (Australian Motorcycle Business Chamber founder Travis Windsor) in 18 months the estimate of lost revenue is some 50 Million Dollars!

Why?  Well, people are fearful of the police there. Since the introduction of the VLAD laws, numerous people have experienced roadside detentions, exhausting grilling by the police and some have been unlawfully jailed and so the riding community of Australia has virtually stopped riding as a result.  Motorcycle sales in that country are down 70% according to the article.

With the ever encroaching laws that are being implemented in this country to curb the 1%er population of our community, we all need to be on guard for the infringement on our rights and be at the ready to protect them.

What do I mean?

Well, in Australia, they have started a Chamber of Commerce geared towards the motorcycle industry and it is holding events to educate and unite the businesses to protest the laws and challenge the laws.

They are also organizing to mount a lawsuit for compensation for those wrongfully arrested or harassed.

They held a meeting in Queensland that was attended by only 50 people, many who wanted to attend were fearful to do so. 

According to the Motorbike Writer's article - BEGIN QUOTE:
The former head of the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Commission and now state parliamentary leader of the Palmer United Party told an anti-VLAD meeting tonight in Brisbane that he believed the government would lose the High Court challenge to the laws.

“I have been reliably informed that the State Government has been advised that the High Court challenge will probably succeed and it will put the state in for a massive compensation claim,” he said. He later estimated that the compensation bill would be in the order of $50-$100m and that he wouldn’t put it past the government to try to revise legislation to avoid paying the costs. “The government is terrified and is in serious trouble.”

Alex was one of several guest speakers at the meeting which only drew about 50 interested members. However, several people said they had friends and associates who wanted to attend but were too scared that they would breach the draconian legislation. Even some of the guest speakers did not attend for fear of breaching the laws and sent friends to read out prepared statements. END QUOTE

There is a website called BikeME.TV that is warning Australians to NOT fill out the form that the police service there calls the "Declaration of Disassociation"  they also offer up the police services page on HOW to Disassociate yourself.

According to the article there are MANY, MANY reasons why you shouldn't fill out the form, among them...

BEGIN QUOTE:
The laws will still apply to you, in their entirety, despite you telling the Queensland Police that you have ‘disassociated’.

You may still be subject to arrest for having a beer with your mates if you fill out the form.

You may still receive 15 or 25 years in jail for a petty offence if you fill out the form.

You may still have bail refused, if you fill out the form.

You may still lose your right to work in your chosen trade or profession if you fill out the form.

The legislation which provides the authority for your arrest, detainment and loss of your rights, does not mention anywhere that if you ‘disassociate’ the laws do not apply to you.

In fact, the laws state just the opposite. If you are, or ever have been, a member or associate of any of the declared organizations, including attending any event in the past that was organized by a one-percent club, the laws apply to you. The definitions of ‘participant’ are very clear about this. “We went to a bike show and now we’re going to jail!”    END QUOTE

I encourage you to read all of the articles I link to in this post - educate yourself.  

What is happening there in Australia, can and will come to a country near you, in many ways, just done more stealthily, we already have pockets and places in this nation of ours that have made it so association is illegal - MANITOBA would be a great example. They have used Peace Bonds to prevent people with no criminal charges pending, from communicating with "associates".  Manitoba is also the first jurisdiction in North America to declare the Hells Angels as a criminal organization.

While we non 1% riders still have the right to meet and organize in this country without fear or reprisal, it might be a good time to do just that. Otherwise, we could see ourselves in a similar situation as Australia is going through.

The 64 million dollar question is, do Canadian riders give a damned enough about the freedoms they espouse to actually unite and start protecting them?

I highly doubt it, but I will continue to dream of a day when we have a true National Riders Rights Organization that is committed to protecting and educating the riding community from the over zealous use of laws meant to discourage 1% clubs.

What say you?

Have a great day and remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider wearing good riding gear - someone who loves you depends on it...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

My, My My, hasn't Harley-Davidson been...

My, My My, hasn't Harley-Davidson been bunch of busy beavers!

2 New street models announced earlier this year and now a brand new Electric motorcycle called the LIVEWIRE! Thanks to Cyril Huze for sharing the video with the rest of us!

Livewire



I like it.

Plain and simple that is one cool Harley and I want to ride one.

It's not the ride I would use for my day to day job or the style of riding I do on a regular basis, but I could see one of these in my garage. I'd make sure it felt loved.

Wow, is all I can say folks - WOW!

Good job Harley-Davidson!

New entry level bikes and now an electric one, I wonder what's next...

Your thoughts?

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

Viking Cycle Jacket - A Product Review

Motorcycle House sent me their Viking Cycle jacket to test out and I put it through a test no rider wants to put a jacket through. I went down in some gravel on May 24th and I am happy to report the jacket did its job admirably.

The day I got the jacket it arrived by UPS and I tore into the box with excitement!

The package my jacket came in.

A nice looking jacket

The jacket looked good and that new leather smell was intoxicating.

I eagerly took a look at the jacket, I inspected the zip out liner and the pocket sneak through for both inner pockets.

Inner pocket sneak through in the liner

The zip out liner

The old saying is that you get what you pay for and this jacket does not have the nicer poly-cotton liner of more expensive jackets, it has a nylon liner that feels rather like that of a nylon jacket or windbreaker.

The jacket's liner is made of a nylon
fabric, as are the inner pockets,
although the pocket mouth is
leather lined.

The sleeves of the liner are held in place with snaps that easily come undone when you take the jacket off and that can be a pain because the liner sleeve comes out of the jacket with your arm.

The snap that holds the
liner sleeve in place
comes undone easily

The front outer pockets of the jacket are rather small, but deep. They pitch forward at an angle that is a little awkward for me and I can't open my hand wide inside the pockets. They feel a bit "restrictive". 

My jacket is a size large and it fit pretty well through the shoulders and the sleeves - the body length was fine for just walking around and there was room to wear a hoodie underneath without the jacket feeling over tight.

All was good, UNTIL I started riding.  I am long in the back and I found that when the jacket was done up, with a hoodie underneath, and I was in riding position that the waist which has an elastic in the side to taper the jacket's fit, rode up too high up for me leaving my kidney area exposed and a tight feeling around the middle part of my ribs.

Photo Courtesy Steel Horses Photography:
You can see the jacket is short in the waist for me but fits good through the shoulders and sleeve.
I realize wearing a hoodie underneath takes away some of the body length,
but there are times a hoodie is needed and this was one of those mornings.

Hindsight being what it is, I should have gone for the XL, but now that the jacket's leather has been compromised, I can't return it for a different size.

For the cost of it, $89.95 it is a surprisingly decent quality jacket.
Not fashion leather but not real heavy leather like my personal custom made jacket is made from either.

It survived a 30-35 KPH gravel crash and did so admirably, but now that the leather has been compromised, I won't wear the jacket again, except as a fashion jacket, because if there were to be a next time, the leather on the right sleeve would probably fail.

Do I recommend this jacket? Yes, for the person on a tight budget that wants a jacket that is capable of lasting through a rough ride, it's a good choice, although once compromised, I would recommend replacing it. Shipping does take a while for a product like this, about 10 days.

The sizing charts they offer on the Motorcycle House web site are pretty accurate but I feel they need to add a measurement from the armpit to the hips so that a person can ensure a better fit in the body.
Their customer service was great, the ordering straightforward and simple.

I give the Viking Cycle Jacket from Motorcycle House 3 gas tanks out of 5

If you are blessed to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please, consider dressing for the slide and not the ride!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Rumours of my Retirement & Other REALLY Bizarre stuff...

I got a couple of emails today, one was from a friend I hadn't heard from in a while.

He told me that I sucked and that there was no way I should be retiring.  That he was invited to attend a poker run in support of me, being held as a way to discourage me from retiring.

And the other from a friend who was appalled that I hadn't shared with her that I was retiring.

Well folks I am here to tell you that I am far from retiring, I have far too much that I want to do in this community to think of retiring.

There have been times, since Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen and Sturgis North decided to launch a shotgun lawsuit against 7 people, when I wondered if what I am working at means anything at all, if it's worth it, if it has value to anyone. But time and again the support and help that I have gotten from this community has reaffirmed that the work I have chosen to do is valuable to at least some.

I am scratching my head right now wondering who it is that is spreading the rumour that I am retiring.  We have begun editing the 2nd season of the TV show and I will be filming for it all summer, provided I have no other set backs, like the crash that has taken me off my work game for the past three weeks.

Our web sites are being overhauled, yet again and we have taken the newspaper to the digital realm entirely.  We are working harder than ever to bring the news and information that this community needs to them.

So the answer to the queries I have been getting is NO - I am not retiring.

I am taken aback by a strange turn of events in the lawsuit though. I am not sure what to make of it.

As you may remember, Sturgis North and company, had offered to drop their lawsuit against all seven of us that were named.  The other six defendants offer was straight forward, don't sue for costs, this goes away. My offer however included a $250K gag order, a removal of all reference to Sturgis North and company in my newspaper, web site and blog and that I monitor social media, my circle of friends and acquaintances to ensure no comments were made by them and allowed to stand, no letters to the editor etc....

I could not accept those terms and a counter offer has been prepared.
Since all of the other parties agreed to settle their cases, they had all signed off and sent their documents to the attorney for Sturgis North, Gerhard Pyper.

My lawyer was not going to send out my counter offer to settle until such time as all of the other suits had gone through court and were over.

We have been waiting for those orders to be signed for about 6 weeks now, a very long time for documents to take in being processed.

Well, today, I got an email from my attorney stating that the BC Law Society had contacted him to let him know that they had assigned a custodian to take over and wind down the law firm Pyper Law Group.
Gerhard Pyper is the lawyer of record for Ray Sasseville and Sturgis North.

My lawyer went on to express that the only reasons that a custodian would be assigned to a law firm was in the event of death, infirmity, suspension or disbarment. The Law Society is not allowed to tell you why a custodian is assigned.

So, I did some investigating and I found out that there were no obituary notices, and since there is was nothing in the news about this attorney anywhere, I went to the BC Law Courts web site and low and behold, Gerhard Pyper has been suspended.  (See the documents on the left)
According to the documents the lawyer was suspended pursuant to
Rule 3-7.1 of the Law Society Rules. But that didn't mean much to me and so I went and read up on that:

Rule 3-7.1 is

EXTRAORDINARY ACTION TO PROTECT PUBLIC

3-7.1 (1) An order may be made under this Rule with respect to a lawyer or articled student who is

(a) the subject of an investigation or intended investigation under Rule 3-5, and

(b) not the subject of a citation in connection with the matter under investigation or intended to be under investigation.

(2) If they are satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that extraordinary action is necessary to protect the public, 3 or more Benchers may


(a) [rescinded]

(b) impose conditions or limitations on the practice of a lawyer or on the enrolment of an articled student, or

(c) suspend a lawyer or the enrolment of an articled student.

(3) to (13) [rescinded]

(14) An order made under this Rule or varied under Rule 3-7.3 [Procedure] is effective until the first of


(a) final disposition of any citation authorized under Part 4 arising from the investigation, or

(b) rescission, variation or further variation under Rule 3-7.3.

I guess on Monday I will be chatting with my lawyer to see how much more this complicates things and how much more expense I will have to face over this suit because of this situation.

For those of you lucky enough to be riding this weekend, please stay safe, enjoy yourself, and remember, the charity you are riding for needs you - rain or shine....

I am hoping to be healed up enough by next week (June 21-22) that I can be on the be on the bike attending the GP Toys for Tots ride to Peace River.

There is also a bike blessing in town on the 21st being hosted by the Trench Wenches MC - one way or the other next weekend will be my first official ride since the crash...

If you want to find out what events are going on in your province of this magnificent land of ours, visit www.motorcycleeventscanada.com

Ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider dressing for the slide and not the ride...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Draggin' Jeans, are they worth it? Do they Work?

I have been wearing Draggin' Jeans for 3 years now and I love them!
They do EXACTLY what they are supposed to and look good doing it!

I own both the Classic and the Drayko Drift styles.

The Drayko Drift is a very modern and trendy style of jean, made of hand distressed denim and while the Kevlar protection zones in them work the same as they do in their other cuts, the acid washed fabric does not stand up to the miles of riding I do.

They are a great jean, they look and fit good, and they will protect your hide, but be forewarned that these jeans are more suited to the rider who goes for short putts or Sunday afternoon rides.
They are not meant to be worn day after day on a 33,000 KM trip, that's for sure.

I call them my dress jeans!  
They still protect my hide but they are not work horse that the classic cut is!

I am wearing my K-Shirt and Drayko Twist Draggin' Jeans in this photo
I was with Jim Hapgood of 2CAV Beaumont-Hamel Unit in St. John's NL

I had gotten two new pairs of the Drayko Drift before I left on my Conga last year, one a size 14 and one a size 12 just before I left on the Conga last year.  I also bought a K - Shirt, a Kvelar riding shirt.

The jeans I wore the most were the size 14's, I torture tested those babies, I let them get wet, I rode 12 and 14 hours a day in them and I washed them in cold water frequently, using a dryer to lightly tumble dry them every chance I got.

Torn after I brutalized them

The jeans lasted better than I thought they would, the arse didn't fall out of them until I got to Cow Head Newfoundland where they split on me - inside the inner thigh, in a distress crease.

The good news is that when I contacted Draggin' Jeans about my situation, they replaced them with a pair of the Classic jeans which are not distressed and are more conducive to long distance riding.

Now the Classic jean is something I am far more familiar with as I have had a pair of them for three years and those babies are TOUGH and durable.

My first pair of classic jeans are still going strong and the new ones are the ones I was wearing when I had my upset in gravel at 30-35 KPH on May 24th, 2014.

The jeans not only did their job, but they held up better than my new leather jacket or my riding gloves did, in fact, there is ZERO evidence of the skidding in the gravel that I did. The jeans don't have a mark on them.

They dissipated the heat as promised in their literature, and I had ZERO abrasion!

When they say these jeans will give you 4.4 seconds skid time and then some they mean it and they have earned CE rating (CE stands for European Conformity’ the universally recognized symbol of product quality and durability) and they are the only Kevlar riding jean to do so from my understanding.

The reason I love Draggin Jeans is they allow me to stay cool and comfortable and yet protected.
You can also add knee armour to them if you want.

I do however have one small problem with the jeans...
I am a middle aged woman whose weight seems to go up and down like a yoyo these days, not like when I was in my 20's and 30's and could devour everything I wanted and never gain an ounce.

My first pair of Draggin' Jeans were size 12 classics and when I lost some weight I ended up having them taken in at the inseam and the waist to get a better fit and that cost me $70 because the seamstress had a hard time sewing them up.

My new classics are also size 12 and the fit me very well until I started doing Yoga again and now they are too big in the waist - I wear a belt with them!

They are an expensive investment and having them in a couple of sizes makes the investment a little bit steeper, but it's an investment I am happy to make. I can wear just the jeans and KNOW with confidence that my hide is safe and get off the bike and not have to un-leather, I can wear long johns underneath them in cold weather and still be warm or I can wear them with my chaps and know that my arse is protected.

They are stylish, comfortable but most of all they really do what they say they will.

DRAGGIN' JEANS SAVE YOUR HIDE!

The K-shirt is another investment that I made and I am glad I did. The K-shirt comes with armour for your shoulders and you can purchase additional armour for your elbows and back.
It also has double Kevlar across the shoulders, the forearms and the elbows.  While I have never had to put the shirt to the test, it is something I wear almost every day of the riding season, especially on hot days where I don't want to wear a jacket of any kind.
To be completely outfitted from shoulder to ankle in Draggin' Jean's products will cost you:
$229 - $349 depending on the style of jean you choose
$219 for a K-Shirt
$35 for K-Gloves
$35 for K-Sox
So for $550 give or take you can have some of the BEST riding gear out there and still by stylin'!

My next investment from Draggin' Jeans will be some K-Sox and some K-Gloves, I am also contemplating the ladies riding jacket - they start at $260 and go up to $329.

Their men's line runs similar pricing.

This company's products are products I believe in and wouldn't want to be without.
I LOVE my Draggin' Jeans and K-Shirt and I am sure that if you tried them, you'd enjoy them as well.

They breath well, look good and do the job they are meant for.
What else can you ask from a product?

You can order retail direct from the company web site and their customer service is AWESOME or you can purchase locally from various retailers throughout Canada by using their store locator.

I don't often give a product 5 gas tanks out of 5 but Draggin' Jeans has proven to me that they deserve the 5 tank rating and that there IS truth in advertising!

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and PLEASE consider dressing for the slide, and not the ride...

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider