RoadTrip Rewards - A Smarter Way to Ride

When I started this little motorcycle media company 14.5 years ago, I dreamed that one day it would be like a TripAdvisor, CAA/AAA, Chamber of Commerce and a Tourism Office all rolled into one.

Well, we are a few steps closer to that happening now.

We have a number of media properties that make up Belt Drive Betty Media:
The Busted Knuckle Chronicles, our national weekly newspaper, our TV Show, Ride Like a Local  which airs both on EastLink TV and YouTube, our national events calendars, www.canadianmotorcycleevents.com and of course the international news feeds site, www.beltdrivebetty.com

We also have the Rider Friendly Directory & the Rider Friendly Support Network.

The Rider Friendly Directory is comprised of all of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles' advertisers and the various business partners that make it so we can afford to bring the news of our community and the event information to you the rider, FOR FREE.  It used to be a part of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles site, but needed to be extricated and put into its own hosting environment.

The same with the Rider Friendly Support Network which used to be part of www.beltdrivebetty.com.

We combined the directory and the support network on one site in these fancy upgraded mobile programs that make it so handy and convenient to find help if you break down on the road, to get the information on where to eat, play and stay like a local = NO APP NEEDED!

You can use the directory without logging in, but when you log in, you get access to the social community, the Rider Friendly Support Network and a membership card that offers you a ton of savings and safety supports.  Our program is not meant to take the place of your local riding club program, instead it's meant to augment/add to it.

That is why we do not charge riders for any of the services we provide to them.

Our card is virtual, located in your profile page and therefor never far away.

We have mom and pop businesses that are offering you, the rider
5-15% discounts at their places of business.


We also have some chains like Holloway Lodgings and Choice Hotels offering deep 15% discounts on hotel stays and in the case of Choice Hotels, they are now offering our membership the 15-20% discount along with the chance to earn a $50 gift card when you stay two times by the end of July (you have to register for that)  Check out the Special Offers page:

https://riderfriendly.com/index.php/for-riders/special-offers

Use Choice Hotels in the search function to
find a hotel near you

Back when we started promoting and listing our advertisers for our national newspaper in a directory fashion, the directory had super limited functionality. Today, the directory offers the business owner a way to market that is affordable and meaningful to their business and it offers the riders a ton of support and savings!

Find Discounts from Holloway Lodging and other
Rider Friendly businesses  under  the
For Rider Tab: Specials

And now on to our big announcements:

Holloway Lodging and Choice Hotels have both joined the Rider Friendly Business Association!

All 34 Holloway properties across Canada are now Rider Friendly offering a 15% discount to our members!

Choice is offering 15-20% discounts right around the world - that's right all 6,400+ Choice Hotel properties are offering our members a discount!

Use Choice Hotels in the search function to find the one nearest you and use our booking code to get the discount!


Here is the official press release from Choice Hotels Canada:

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

If you live in Grande Prairie come on out to our Cruise Night - Motley Cue BBQ will be on hand and there are great prizes up for grabs and a 50/50 draw all in support of the Afghanistan War Monument & Memorial Park.

Belt Drive Betty, Editor & Rider

It's OVER for Nashville Bike Week

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Nashville Bike Week is a non starter.

With the arrest of Mike Leffingwell/Axle for changing his name illegally and failing to appear, this man who had charges in 4 states and for whatever reason decided not to deal with them, has left his event in dire straits.

The Loretta Lynn Ranch had pulled out as the host venue back in
February, then a farmer not far away pulled out, then the Gaylord Opryland Hotel pulled out and now the last hope that this event might go off has also pulled out.

A man named Stan Chiras of the  American Rebel Mudpark was going to take the event over as he owns 500 acres that is an actual event venue and a man with a lot of special event experience.
After 11 days of waiting for financials = transparency, he decided that if he couldn't get the paperwork to know what has gone on, he'd best back away.

So now Nashville Bike Week is without a leader and without a home.

Stan Chiras of American Rebel Mud Park is going to be hosting a FREE 10 day event on his property for anyone who bought tickets to Nashville Bike Week. It won't be as grand an event, but it will have bands and entertainment and camping and if you bought a Nashville Bike Week ticket/package he's going to do his best to honour them as far as the spaces for toy haulers etc.

Here is the official statement from Stan Chiras of American Rebel Off Road Park:

"After discussions with State and local officials, and consulting with legal counsel, American Rebel Off Road Park is withdrawing as a venue for Nashville Bike Week and Superflow Entertainment.

It became obvious that with the time remaining until the event date, there is no way to meet the promises made by Superflow Entertainment to its customers.  There was also no feasible way to meet the statutory guidelines required by the State of Tennessee for permitting an event of this size.

When I entered into discussion with Nashville Bike Week my intent was to contribute to saving this event for the over 4000 fellow bikers who had already paid in advance for this event.  I deeply regret this could not work out.

I would like to extend an invitation to anyone who paid for this event to come to Tennessee and enjoy our hospitality and all that our county and State has to offer.

You’re welcome to come and stay here at no charge."

Sincerely,

Stan Chiras 

American Rebel Off Road Park

http://www.armudpark.com/

(931) 722-5058

I had hoped that Mike Axle was not another like the one we have had in Canada who has, sadly, resurfaced to try another event. However, it appears that Nashville Bike Week was nothing more than one big scam.

I was angry at those who were phoning venue after venue and getting the owners to turn their backs on signed contracts.

Part of me wanted to believe in that this guy was sincere. He did not conduct himself the way the other person I have experience with did. He never dodged me.

And then there's the whole thing about Canadian law and US law which are very different from each other.

Had I done to the Canadian event (that went this same direction in BC), what the Americans have done to Mike Leffingwell/Axle and Nashville Bike Week, I'd have been thrown in jail.
ANYWAY...They were right, these detractors and Mike is another like the one from BC....the one who is hosting an Oilfield event now.

I am sad that things went this way but, our community has been known to attract some unsavoury people.

So sad for so many. I am beyond being angry anymore - I feel deflated.
There goes my big trip of the season, time to reorganize - with the workload I have, not a bad idea...

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Bet Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Calling all East Coast Riders - Heck - ALL Riders ACROSS Canada

Today I had the pleasure of meeting, over the telephone, a business man who is making dreams come true.

His name is Dimitri Neonakis and he owns a successful small business on the east coast.
An avid pilot, he got the idea to take kids with special needs up in his small plane, inspired by being up in the blue with the clouds, to give them something exciting, different and interesting to try.

Here is a short video from CBC Halifax:

Dream Wings is only 10 days old, but already Dimitri and his now growing list of pilots want to expand what they are doing. His efforts have garnered a ton of volunteers, including his children!

Not only do Dimitri and his pilot friends want to challenge pilots in other communities to do something wonderful and free for children with special needs, he is also challenging the motorcycle community to get involved!

You see I told Dimitri about the Anti Bullying "ride a kid to school" campaigns that have started right across Canada, by my two of my friends, virtually at the same time, Keven Ellis from Hamilton Ontario and Steve Enns in Edmonton AB.
I am proud to say I know these two men, and how their efforts caught the news headlines.

Now, right across the country motorcyclists who find out about kids who are being bullied are taking these kids to school and picking them up after school. Sometimes with 7-8 bikes, other times with 30, 50.

The goal is to let kids know that bullying is not accepted, not tolerated and that the kids being bullied do have friends.

When I told Dimitri the story, he was moved to tears and said you know, we need to get your community involved in this.

"If we could get people who have motorcycles
with sidecars and trikes to come out and take some of these children for a small ride, what excitement they would get.

We could hold a fair and call it Planes, Trikes and Cars for Kids - and get people with exotic cars and the Fire Department with a rig - can you see how much fun a day of giving like this could be?" said Dimitri.

Oh yes Dimitir, I can!

So there, you have it folks - Dimitri Neonakis - Halifax Nova Scotia - you can find him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/dimitri.neonakis

Please reach out to Dimitri to find out the intricacies of what you need to do, like releases to be signed etc...

Let's help Dimitri's efforts called "Dream Wings" REALLY take flight! 

Let's get the power of the riding community behind this man and help him expand it to other modes of fun transportation and to expand it right across the country...

I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!

Pass this post along to every rider you know, because he wants riders to join him in his efforts to bring a smile to child's face right there in Halifax and all throughout Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.

I intend to see if we can get a day like this coordinated in Grande Prairie AB - what a wonderful way to light up a child's day.  Good idea?  What say you?

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, PLEASE ride like everyone is blind and can not see you!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
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Hypocrisy, jealousy, tell me what this is, as I can't tell.

My article about the poster that caused such controversy has some feminists up in arms today.

Here is the Moto Internationale Poster that has caused so many women motorcyclists who belong to the Facebook group, Women Riders Council of Canada to loose their minds and some to call BMW to complain and put the dealership Moto Internationale in the hot seat.

I have to say that I do not understand the women who think that a poster of a chick in a bikini, posing for a charity bike wash, clearly marketing to the male demographic is objectification of the female person and somehow a horrible thing for female riders to have to witness.

The majority of the population in the world is attracted to the opposite gender.  If an advertiser uses a pretty girl to attract the of the attention of the male population they are marketing to, then he's marketing to his target. It's not about offending you.

Here is the definition of advertising according to Merriam-Webster:

1: the action of calling something to the attention of the public especially by paid announcements

I don't think bashing that pretty little girl in the bikini bike wash poster, the dealer for trying to market to men or the brand for allowing their motorcycle to be near a female in a bikini is fair treatment to any of them.

The poster you are looking at may or may not be of an airbrushed female of the human species, or it might actually be an artists rendering of a female. Either way, if there was a woman who modelled for that poster, she probably got paid good money. She probably has another job, is a girlfriend or wife, a student or a lawyer - we have no idea from one photo, one poster.  Everything about the woman in the poster is an ASSUMPTION, other than she is slender and dark haired.

The advertising however is clearly targeted to the heterosexual male rider.

It's clearly not targeting the female rider.  

Is that what is wrong with the poster?  The female feels left out?

My article about Debunking the Sisterhood Myth in Motorcycling has caused so much hateful vitriol I don't even know where to start, here is one such comment, a sample if you will:

"The article was remanent of the 1960s, to be honest, in a culture where women were conditioned to compete against each other and their sense of self worth and value was placed on their looks. Accusing others of being jealous, stating that being cat-called by strangers on the street offers some sort of empowerment perpetuates the rape culture that exists today (and really, always has been). The men you are referring to believe it is their right to whistle at, cat-call with lewd statements, and dictate how we should receive their attention and is everything but empowering. When women truly support, include and empower each other, we will have a sisterhood. Lead by example and you will attract like-minded women. We should not be bashing each other, regardless of our opinions. We should be respectfully agreeing to disagree. The author of the article behaved no different than a mysoginist man who just talks over women - we disagree - big deal. There's no need to bash everyone who didn't agree with you."

Wow is all I can say. Frankly being compared to a misogynist has me shaking my head.  To have someone make claims that I "stating that being cat-called by strangers on the street offers some sort of empowerment perpetuates the rape culture that exists today"

If you are going to quote me, then do so properly, here is what I actually said:
If you have ever walked a little taller when a construction worker wolf whistled at you, if you ever sucked your gut in a bit, cause that someone special was looking your way, if you have ever changed clothes ten times before going out on a date, if you have ever put on that special pair of shoes because you were told they made your legs look sexy, then don't be a hypocrite."

To the gal who wrote that diatribe: You couldn't disagree with my opinion until I had written it so how could I be bashing everyone who didn't agree with me?  Moreover, you bashed me in your comments..."We should not be bashing each other, regardless of our opinions. We should be respectfully agreeing to disagree. The author of the article behaved no different than a mysoginist man who just talks over women".  

About the only sentence in the whole article these women seemed to grab on to was the one where I said that "If the 20 something in the bikini offends your old, jealous flabby arse, then don't look at the poster or the chick, don't attend the event, move on - get over yourself."....and OH MY GAWD I am a villain of epic proportions because I dared to call some of these gals out for being jealous and hypocritical.

I am like a misogynist I guess because I believe that:

1) We should all feel comfortable in our own skin - no matter our shape or size. (If you are concerned a young woman thinks her body is her only worth, become a big sister)

2) We should all be taught that our appearance is not equal to our self worth or our WHOLE worth.

3) We should all be teaching our female children what their whole self worth is comprised of.

4) We all should know the difference between advertising and targeted marketing (marketing to male, female, LGBTQ and Family demographics all require a different mindset), and that objectification is NOT the goal of advertising - Awareness is.

 Why do you have to choose to be offended, because you realize its a choice, right?  

If this man was on the poster offering to wash your bike, for those ladies who are into men, how would you ladies feel?  

Would men be inclined to attend?

Probably not unless they are in to men - gay/bisexual.

Should men be offended by a poster like this?

Do you think this male model is being objectified?

Would this be appropriate marketing in 2017?

I bet a good number of over weight, out of shape males with self esteem issues would have something to say about the topic, but because they are men with self esteem issues, they won't tell you how they feel, because they know they will never win, because they have been raise to believe that they are men, therefore wrong.  

The strong males of the species won't give a crap. 

The gay/bixexual men are drooling.

As I say in my previous article:

Self worth/esteem is a HUMAN issue.

QUIT MAKING IT GENDER DRIVEN.

Three Years Old

I find the Niqab, the Hijab, and the Burka to be disturbing items of clothing for what they represent, but I don't go around slamming women who dress that way. The same with those cultures and faiths, like the Hutterites, the Mennonites and the Amish, where the women dress like they are stuck in the 19th century, they seem happy.  I don't agree with these cultures & ideologies, they aren't for me, but if they are happy, I say live and let live.

I am VERY disappointed that these women who took me to task for voicing my viewpoint and calling out the jealousy that I believe is at the root of their vehemence - not one of them, would address the little girl dressed up for a beauty pageant at 3 years old, looking like she's ready for a date...that's TEACHING OBJECTIFICATION - that's teaching your daughter her body/appearance is her primary worth.  The article from the Daily Mail in the UK shows a few more photos and shares the fact that this mother spent a fortune every month to keep her daughter competition ready at 3 years old.

I was told by a women from the Women Riders Council of Canada a part of the MCC and funded by the MMIC to find my own tribe, that there are many kinds of sisterhood.

Let's have an honest and fair debate here:

What are your thoughts on these calendars and the reasons behind them - the Ladies Calendar:

the Men's Calendar:

Tell me what's wrong with these calendars?  

They both are for charity. 

They both "sell" sexuality/appeal.

They both clearly show hard working firefighters who know their self worth...

If you can find something offensive, objectifying or demeaning here, then tell me what it is?

Have a fantastic day, and if you are blessed enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider

Women in Motorcycling, debunking the Sisterhood Myth

Over the last several days I have been seeing a whole bunch of brand and motorcycle industry bashing by female riders over women in bikini's on posters for charity bikini bike washes.
What really got my goat is how many of those complaining appear to sport cleavage shots on their Facebook pages. I cannot believe the dishonesty and hypocrisy of these females.

They are jealous but  instead of recognizing it for what it is, they are jumping on the "Female Objectification" bandwagon without any real understanding of the term,  other than it's a popular catch phrase these days.

If you are a human being who understands biology and procreation, then you understand sexual urge. You also understand the pheromones that the whole mating ritual gives off and you probably can remember the excitement of being 16, 20, 24 and having that guy/gal you liked pay attention to you.

It's why the gal's who so bitterly decrying the pretty air brushed 20 something body in the poster, all sport some sort of dress up pose, they are looking for appreciation of their physical appearance.

Sexuality is part of the human being.

A young woman posing for a poster in a bikini, or being willing to wear a bikini for a charity bike wash is no cause for the foot stamping, brand, male and female bashing BS I have been reading from these women.

This is NOT HUMAN TRAFFICKING - These women aren't being FORCED to pose, they are proud of their bodies, their sexuality and isn't learning to be comfortable in your own skin part of this whole I am "Woman hear me Roar" that we are always hearing about?

Or does being comfortable in your own body only apply to the obese or extremely skinny?

If you have ever walked a little taller when a construction worker wolf whistled at you, if you ever sucked your gut in a bit, cause that someone special was looking your way, if you have ever changed clothes ten times before going out on a date, if you have ever put on that special pair of shoes because you were told they made your legs look sexy, then don't be a hypocrite.

WE LOVE ALL COMPLIMENTS.  

We love being told we look pretty or beautiful, or that we did a bang up job on a report, or on a welding project...

Just because you are jealous that you don't have that 20 something body anymore does not give you the right to go around bashing others who are/were:
1) needing some strong female companionship to show them their WHOLE worth,
2) really comfortable in their own skin and don't give a crap what you think or
3) offered some good money to pose and don't care if you like the fact that they traded money for the use of their body in a poster.

A bikini car/bike wash poster for charity does not entice me to want to attend, but there are those who enjoy it. Who are you, me or anyone else to dictate to someone what they should or should not enjoy or participate in?

There is an old school motto that the riding community has forgotten even though you see it on tee shirts, primaries and key fobs everywhere, "Live and Let Live".  In essence it means that if it has no bearing on your day to day life, then let it go,  as long as they aren't trying to force something on you that you are not comfortable with, let it go.

SOOOOO...

If the 20 something in the bikini offends your old, jealous flabby arse, then don't look at the poster or the chick, don't attend the event, move on - get over yourself.

If you are so jealous and concerned that your old man might find a younger body more attractive than yours, then you are with the wrong old man (or significant other).

To blame an industry for objectifying the female body makes about as much sense as claiming that cutlery makes people fat.

Objectification of the female form starts with WOMEN - not the industry of motorcycling and not even with men, it starts with women.  

Women are the biggest objectifiers of the female form.

MOTHERS teaching daughters
how to be princesses, sexy
little girls at 3 and 4 and 5 years old.

We criticize and pick each other apart pointing out every flaw the other has.

Don't believe me?

Just go listen to a gaggle of catty, bitchy females when some pretty little thing walks by...the jealousy and criticism is palpable, and the subliminal message the girl gets, is loud and clear:
You are disgusting, you are dirt, you don't belong or fit in because you are different and yet...
so many claim to be a part of a sisterhood.

I read, see and witness it time and time again.

If you really want women to quit posing in bikinis, washing bikes wearing bikinis or riding bikes with bikinis on, then maybe you should focus your self righteous anger at the beauty pageant industry, or lovingly start teaching girls how to become strong women and become a big sister.

I don't know about you, but I am far more offended by the photo of the little girl above than I am of the girl's in the bikini's on the poster. That little girl has no say in how she dresses up.  How she looks, but the adult in the poster does.

If you really think that you will ever stop women from taking off their clothes to gain the appreciation that some male (and some females) will give their beautiful young bodies, think again.

If you really think you will ever convince men to quit lusting after the female form, then you are delusional.

But folks, I want you to understand that this isn't a gender specific issue.

Self worth/esteem is a HUMAN issue.

QUIT MAKING IT GENDER DRIVEN.

Is human trafficking a devastating issue? YES. 
Are there men who use their gender to attempt to bully or otherwise coerce women into doing things they don't want to to keep a job, get a bank loan etc.? OH Yeah.

Are there women who enable, condone, participate, initiate or otherwise support any of the above? YES. Are there or have there ever been women who run prostitution rings, sexually abuse other women etc? YES.

If you really think that the male of our species is so disgusting and privileged then perhaps you should actually look at what we are doing to them in the name of "gender equality."

I dare every human being I know to read the book "Knights without Armor" by Aaron R. Kipnis, Ph.D. It just might enlighten you to find out that a lot of men are confused, hurt and disillusioned as to what their role in society is these days.

As far as RESPECT, we don't need someone to give it to us or to approve it for us. This isn't the turn of the century and 99% of women in western cultures now a days have full control over their lives. Those who don't have either have:

1)  just never seized it, 

2) are just learning how or 

3) are dealing with self esteem issues and not getting the support they need.  

Education is what it takes to change these things. 

Righteous indignation and bashing will never get you anywhere except hated.

Today, women in western civilization have more rights, power and freedom than ever before and yet many of our female politicians have turned out to be as corrupt, untrustworthy and power hungry or more than their male counterparts.  

Quit with the industry and man bashing.
Quit denigrating the female with the beautiful body because you are jealous.
Quit pretending we are all sisters when we clearly are not.
Quit with the moral outrage that is masked as gender equality and equal rights, and identify your insecurity for what it really is; jealousy -  and then let it go.

At the end of the day, you are going to buy the motorcycle that fits your ass comfortably, the riding gear that keeps you safe and makes you look good and go home with the man you came with if he's any kind of a man and you are any kind of a woman; if you are true partners, nothing will shake either of you. (This goes for all partnerships.)

The chick in the bikini is no threat to you unless you let her be or you are with the wrong partner.
Put your petty jealousy away, because its probably the least becoming thing a woman can wear.

I modelled for a living in my younger days. It was hard, gruelling and emotional work.
The people looking at your body, judging your fitness to grace the runway, catalogue cover or a billboard looked at only one thing, is yours the right body line combined with the right attitude to sell these clothes.  Who you were as a person never once entered into the equation unless you were easy to work with or a diva and being a diva was rarely a good thing.

You were there to sell clothes. PERIOD - Attractiveness sells, sex sells - that's all they cared about.
And there were MANY, MANY women on those panels, in fact most often it was other women picking apart my form.

My bloom has faded, I am no longer that pretty young rose, but my husband still thinks I am pretty (he doesn't wear his glasses as much as he should thank God!)

It still feels good to have someone think that I am pretty, I don't get offended by it at all.
That does not also mean that I am not smart, or talented in one way or another.

We were put on this earth to procreate, to be attracted to each other sexually and that is not a BAD THING...and remember, there are women who are good sisters, who support each other, who lift each other up, and then there are those who are worse than snakes, to your face they will be sweetness and light, but the minute you walk away....the daggers come out.

Be careful of the Sisterhood myth - the Sisterhood does exist,

 just not in the soul of every woman out there.

Have a great day and remember if you want to save money, have a safe and enjoyable riding season, join www.riderfriendly.com and on your profile page, you'll find your membership card...

Save up to 20% at Choice Hotels in Canada, when you use this link to book your room: https://www.choicehotels.com/?clientid=00442520

See discounts and savings from hundreds of other member businesses like Holloway Lodging and Blackstone Mountain Lodge and enjoy all of the safety and support tools we have to offer like the "Never Ride Alone" program ALL FOR FREE!  Join for all of the fabulous contests we host, stay for the friendship....join us on Facebook too!!!!


Bet Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
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Contentious Days and Ways, Old School VS New School

It seems to me that everywhere I turn there is nothing but nasty, hurtful media, nasty, hurtful stories, nasty hurtful people doing nasty hurtful things.

If a person voices their opinion or shares their feelings on topics like Muslims and Sharia Law, expect to be attacked by a pack of rabid humans if you have any doubts, questions or fears to express.

If a person who lived through the King Ralph era here in Alberta draws similarities to what Trump is doing in the US to stimulate business and the economy and says, hey, I like those ideas, my God you'd think you were the worst person in the world and had to like and support everything about the man.  How people can make that big of a leap without evidence is beyond me.

The stuff that has been going on in our global community, our world has be making me physically and spiritually ill.

We in the motorcycle community have our own politics and they are just as hurtful and just as nasty as anything you'll see on TV.  From being told take of our vests/patches, cuts, shirts etc...to being profiled, we riders can and many have experienced a ton of garbage.

We have all sorts of outside discrimination hurled at us, and then we have our own form of  internal discrimination, sport bikers versus cruisers, touring - the whole brand bashing, Ducati eats GSXR or Indian blankety blanks H-D, clubbers VS non clubbers...some of it is good natured, some of it not so much. You'd think after the unfair way many of us are tarred that we wouldn't go down the path of discrimination but guess what...we do.

And then there's the kind of insidious personal politics that makes one scratch their head and go, what the H E DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS just happened.

I started this business, Belt Drive Betty Media, trying to find a job for myself after a car crash. After much research and courses, I landed on promoting the charitable events and causes of the motorcycle community and writing a column about our world. This one...From the Depths of File 13...

I did not want to mow anyone else's lawn and so I have stayed pretty true to that niche.

I have offered our company's services up to various organizations and many have used them very successfully.

We have operated the Canadian Motorcycle Events Calendars and provided them for free to the riding community, the clubs, the charities, the associations and the riders for 15 seasons now.

www.canadianmotorcyleevents.com

We put hundreds and thousands of hours into the calendars every year. 

I have one person named Dave Trerice, that's all he does is reach out to the riding clubs, the associations and charities and ensures their events get that free exposure.  Ali our web mistress, Rhonda in sales and myself, we all contribute, but Dave, he's the heavy lifter...

My company pays him, not well, but pays him, not what he's worth, but we pay him to help these communities and their causes. 

He makes sure that the calendars have all of the information that the posters should have but often times don't, like contacts, addresses etc.  He puts his heart and soul into helping these riding clubs, associations and causes. 

He shares all through social media doing his best to bring value to every fellow rider he meets on the net. 

He's the man that manages the CanadianMotorcycleEvents page on Facebook.  

PLEASE LIKE US!!!!!!

This is Dave. 

Dave is waiting to add YOUR motorcycle event to our Canadian Motorcycle Events Calendar @ canadianmotorcycleevents.com Email your poster to events@beltdrivebetty.com

Now I always offer anyone with a riding club web site the code to use our calendars to promote upcoming events so they don't have to re-invent the wheel and so that our sponsors get a little plug because there are a few ads on the calendars, three I believe.  Our calendars are easy to use, divided up by province, sortable by kind of event, postal code and a whole bunch of other filters that can be applied.

However, some of the organizations we have offered the free use of our calendars to, have flat out turned us down, some even preferring we do not support their causes with free advertising. 

These orgs are largely run by other women.

These organizations would rather build their own calendars than work together, I get it, but I don't.

Then there are some other gals I have come to know who are doing a publicity trip. I offered to help with hotel discounts and publicity through our newspaper.  They have chosen not to respond.  

That makes me sad.

I am too old school I guess. 

Me, I just want to work with and help everyone I can. 

I am for ever and always trying to put people together that I think will help each other.  

I do introductions all the time. 

I love to contribute to this community, our society, country; my attitude is if I can bring one more person to your event, or cause, then the effort I /we put out on promoting for you is worthwhile,  and yet, it seems to me that there are certain factions that think we want to take over instead of help. That's the vibe they give off as they aren't very diplomatic in their refusals to work together. 

Or it could be that perhaps a month and a half of flu and funerals has made me too touchy...

I don't know.

And maybe New School and Old School just aren't meant to find a bridge to working together.

I am finding it difficult to wrap my head around the fact that there are people don't want help or contributions from those they deem as outsiders.

I know we can't all like each other or understand each other, but I always thought that we should be able to rise above our selves for the good of all to work together to promote the common good.  

There have been a handful of people in my life that for one reason or another, I could not get along with on a personal level, we had a personality conflict or something going on... and yet we found ways to work together for the common good when push came to shove. 

I have something of value to offer anyone with need of a method to get their message out, the audience that does enjoy reading what I and our community contributes, the audience who loves to hate what I write - these two audiences are valuable.

I bet there would be some among my audience, you the reader...who would love to know what these ladies are up to and how terrific I think they are.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it sounds like I am whining but really, I am just shocked, puzzled, confused or maybe it is that "Old Timers" is setting in....and I'm becoming a purple sweater wearing lady.

How can you turn down a bit of free publicity, from someone who thinks what you offer is valuable...

I would love to help spread that word, shine that light...that was what my company was founded on, being a clearinghouse of information, helping riders find what they need...

I am feeling my age today because I genuinely do not need to like you to see your value, unlike some of the up and comers whom, it seems, can't work with others unless they all think the same and like each other.

Contentious days and ways....

I guess that really does make me old school. 

What say you?

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider

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Nashville Bike Week moves venue to Gaylord Opryland!

Press Release: Nashville Bike Week May 25th, 2017

We are holding the Nashville Bike Week 2017 event inside the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center grounds. The event will take place in the large additional parking areas located near main gates on Opry Mills Drive. The event hours are from 8:00am until 11:30pm CST each day. We will be offering ten day passes, opening/closing passes, and daily passes. These event passes do not include camping or hotel accommodations*. All guests that are not staying at Gaylord Hilton will need to leave each evening at closing. 

Camping will be available at the many area campgrounds located less than a mile away. If you have already purchased a ticket with us that included camping, you will be provided a spot at the Yogi Bear Campground at no additional cost. Hotels in the area are offering our guest special incentive rates during the event. Individual hotels are under no special obligations and different discounts may apply. We will be offering shuttle services provided by Gaylord Opryland to and from the campground on a regular schedule. These will provide a safe and comfortable ride back to the camping areas when needed. We will have additional shuttles that will take you to Lower Broadway. Downtown parking will be provided in designated participating garages and lots. Nashville Bike Week will hold a Bagger and Bike Contest located outside the Magnolia Lobby Entrance. VIP Meet and Greet Sessions with bands will be help inside the Gaylord complex in private meeting rooms. Nashville Bike Week is also offering discount tickets to tour the Grand Ole’ Opry and General Jackson Showboat.

Gaylord Opryland will be providing beer and liquor sales. You will be allowed to bring in plastic containers to the event areas. Please drink responsibly. Outside liquor should not be brought into the main lobby or other areas of the resort.

(*If you have already purchased a ticket with us that included a cabin, full service, or primitive camping, you will be provided a spot at no additional cost at the local participating campgrounds located less than one mile from event.) Thank you from the staff of Nashville Bike Week. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center 2800 Opryland Drive Nashville, Tennessee 37214 USA

WEBSITE  http://nashvillebikeweek.com/