A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2 Season 6 Episode 9 Segment 2

Season 6 Episode 9 Segment 2
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2

Valerie Kent works in the motor clothes department at Barnes Harley-Davidson.  She loves her bike and going down the road.  Feeling the wind in her hair, going on adventures and meeting new people.  It's all about having a good time.

She's at the Sicamous Summer Stomp and has met a lot of friends so she loves to come back every year.

She has a sissy bar on her bike made by her husband and put together by a friend.  This is her fourth year riding and says her longest ride was over 900 kms.  She has put on over 14,000 kms in the last four years.  She just loves to travel!!

She is blessed to be working for Harley-Davidson because she gets to travel to these events, meet new people and talk bikes.

Ria Schness aka Ria the Welder makes custom sissy bars.  Ria fell in love with bikes at a young age.  She had two neighbors that would take her for rides.  Her boyfriends all had bikes growing up.  Finally four years ago she decided the wait was over and finally got her own bike.  Her longest ride was Kelown to Utah, camped 3 days in the desert, and rode back home.

Ria trades her welding expertise and will trade her custom sissy bars for bike maintenance, paint jobs etc.

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

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2 Season 6 Episode 9 Segment 1

Season 6 Episode 9 Segment 1
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2

Lauren Kerrison is the merchandise and inventory manager/motor clothes for the Langley, Kamloops and Victoria Barnes Harley-Davidson stores

Lauren loves working for Harley-Davidson.  They are one big family.  She gets to travel a lot and meet new and interesting people all the time.

She loves her department.  Motor clothes follows all the major fashion houses.  She gets to go to two fashion shows a year where the clothes are modeled and she gets to see the clothes in action.  The clothes are designed for riders by riders so they are functional, amazing and built to last.

There is the game of Barnes between the three stores where the highest point earner can win some major prizes including a new bike.  It's just another way to get involved with the community and have a great time!

After we met with Shannon Wammer.  Shannon is the apparel manager and events coordinator at Konquer Motorcycles.  As well as Tim Allen who is the website and events coordinator.

Shannon loves the Sicamous Summer Stomp.  It means she gets to be outside in the fresh air and sun and not stuck in the office.  She loves watching all the riding games and meeting new people

Tim agrees and said he loves to interact with the customers and educate them with their rides, apparel and parts.

Konquer Motorcycles has a new mail order program.  They will meet or beat any online pricing.  You can request a quote by calling, emailing or online.

Tim says the number one ailment during the year is tires.  Please always check your tire threads and air pressure.  Be safe first and replace the tires if need be.  They will help you out with basic service.

Konquer Custom Rides is new for them.  They will be doing custom builds, detailing, service and merchandise.  Stop by!

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

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 1 Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 3

Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 3
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 1

We got to visit with Darby Mills of the Darby Mills Project. This is their second year preforming.  Darby left the Headpins early to start out on her own.  They play some original music, some Headpins music and some really good old school rock covers.

Darby says she turns off the news.  The world is becoming such a crazy place that she has to shut off for awhile.  But don't forget, knowledge and education are so important.

Positive thinking is her way.  Give out what you want to get back.  During her stint doing network marketing, Darby learned that there are always hurdles and challenges in life.  She also lost her mom and husband within 6 months of each other and left her with a lot to reflect on.  She says she is very blessed now to be doing what she loves.  Do what you want to do in life.  It's scary but so worth it in the end.  Find your pat and take those hurdles to get to your goal.  She feels blessed to have the abilities and health to be doing what she loves.  You never know how much time we have left on this earth.

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

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

 

A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 1 Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 2

Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 2
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2

Some amazing vendors were at the Sicamous Summer Stomp 2018.  One of the was Ken Patterson of Artist Bench Guitars.  He had a very unique booth with hand made cigar box guitars.
Each guitar is made with exotic wood and three strings.  Each has its on unique style and all are electric.  Some even have adjustable bridges and you can adjust the string height.

Ken is also a motorcycle air brush artist and has been for over 30 years.  He enjoyed the crossover to guitars and finds it a great artistic outlet.

He says they are a blast to play!!

Wade Stewart is an executive committee member, a co-coordinator and has also been the M.C. at the Sicamous Summer Stomp for a number of years.  He says its a curse and an honor to do so every year.  After all the moaning and bitching is done, we love it and its a blast every year.

One of the favorite bands this year is Darby Mills of the Darby Mills Project.  Wade has known her for over 42 years and she is also his Aunt.  Darby Mills is the scream queen of Canada!!  This is her second year at the Sicamous Summer Stomp.

Everything from the pit crew to the volunteers to the sponsors make up the Sicamous Summer Stomp.  They are the absolute heart of the event.  After having 7 committee members they are only down to two but the help from the volunteers that stepped up made everything come together.

Large and small vendors such as After Dark Distillery, Konquer Motorcycles, Harley Davidson, Rico RSK Apparel and Sweet Legs by Taylor, just to name a few, make everything happen.  There were some very unique and beautiful booths this year.  They always make for a phenomenal weekend.

The volunteers may not be able to rest until all is torn down and put away.  After the weekend they spend hours cleaning up every single cigarette butt and piece of garbage.  Sicamous has been very welcoming and we respect that.  RCMP were also amazing assisting with road closures and safety.

Remember to be safe.  There are shuttles to and from town and free camping.
Do Not drink and drive.

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

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Heroes Highway Ride & Rally

Since 2008 the Heroes Highway Ride & Rally has been held on the first Saturday in June and is a free event for citizens of Canada to participate in to thank our troops for their service and their sacrifices.

Lou DeVuono and Graeme Hume are co founders of this event and worked through all kinds of challenges to get to this, their 11th year.
After years of working to earn the respect and credibility of all the various bodies that all work together to make this event happen and stay safe, the Heroes Highway Ride & Rally has become a staple in the Ontario motorcycle community.

I have been blessed enough to attend 5 of these events, some in the pouring rain, some under crystal blue skies.
Everytime, rain or shine 2,000+ riders have come out.

The event gets lined up at the National Air Force Museum in Trenton Ontario and ends up in Port Hope, Ontario with a full blown rally.
There are entertainers and bands as well as an official ceremony recognizing the various dignitaries that take part.
The Port Hope Fire Services, St. John’s Ambulance and the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment all have static Displays.
The Fare Share Food bank is on hand collecting donations that all riders are encouraged to bring and that is as close to costing anything as this event gets!
A wide assortment of veterans organizations are on hand in Rotary Park making this event a well rounded tribute to our military.

This year is very special as the national Silver Cross Mother, Anita Cenerini is the Parade’s Grand Marshall.
There will  be a Legion Colour Guard on every bridge between Trenton and Port Hope, and citizens are invited to come out to the bridges and get involved.
www.heroeshighwayride.ca

And on Canadian Forces Day, June 2nd, there is the National Memorial Ride that starts at the National War Museum and ends at Beechwood Cemetary, our Canadian National Military Cemetery.  Ms. Cenerini will be a key-note speaker at the event at Beachwood.  It’s a moving experience that every Canadian who rides a motorcycle needs to experience. (This event is now run by the Royal Canadian Legion.)
(https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/promoting-remembrance/national-memorial-ride)

3rd Annual Ride for Mom

The 3rd Annual Ride for Mom took place at Blackjacks Roadhouse on May 11th, 2019.
300 motorcycles participated under beautiful sunny skies and 24 degree temperatures!

Krysta Shields, Kevin O'Connor and Tyler Grant are the Ride for Mom.
Krysta is the manager of Blackjacks Roadhouse & Games Room.  Kevin is an Alberta Sheriff and Tyler is the social media guy for Blackjacks catching as much of the action to share with everyone and helping to build the reputation they have as Alberta’s Best Bike Bar.

The Ride for Mom is one of the fastest growing events in Alberta and the reason is obvious, Blackjacks Roadhouse hosts the most incredible Two Wheel Tuesday Ride Nights anywhere in the province and they do it by supporting different causes and charities every week with their $6 burger sales and the best food and service around. (They work hard to serve so many in such a short space of time every Tuesday!)

There are a few other reasons this event is so fast growing - the Shields Family themselves are renowned around the northern half of Alberta for their giving natures and their sense of being in service to others. Just ask anyone who has benefited from their generosity at their free Christmas buffet where they give up their Christmas to feed others! (Never mind everything else they do and they do a lot of charitable work, every last one of them.)

Then there is the ride itself and everything you get because of the sponsors who supply the free breakfast, the free patches, the water at all the stops, and the signage. The sheriffs and the RCMP who help keep things safe, and the Victim Services offices who help out. You get a ton for your $30 entry fee including door prize tickets!

And finally, there is the cause. Ending Domestic Violence.

The Ride for Mom supports:
Edmonton Domestic Violence Shelters Engage (EDVSE) to help end domestic violence.
Six Edmonton-based organizations that advocate for survivors of domestic violence, for their organizations, and for the sheltering response: La Salle, Lurana Shelter Society, WIN House, Wings of Providence, Sage Seniors Safe House, and the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.
Because of the hard work of the board of directors, and Krysta Shields in particular, 100% of the proceeds raised go towards the needs of Edmonton Area shelters.

The Ride for Mom helps build strong families through education and awareness of exactly what the impact of domestic violence is on women and children.

Having all of the first responders and victim services all involved in this ride, brings the message home loud and clear that there are women and children that need all of the support they can get and that domestic violence needs to be stopped.

Guardians of the Children, BACA, Bullying Enns, UBAKA, Protection for the Unprotected, Bikers are Buddies and many other children’s rights advocacy groups were on hand lending their support to this cause.  On hand were some of the regional ladies riding clubs like Babes on Bikes, Women in the Wind, & Pink Motor Sisters!

To the communities of Millet & Breton, your hospitality was amazing and East Parkland Bible Church I was told the time there was fantastic.
To the staff of Blackjacks Roadhouse and the volunteers from Brunch for Broads, the ATB, Klondike Insurance and the EDVSE, thank you for another amazing day!

To all who rode, thank you.
Whether you realize it or not, you probably know someone who is dealing with domestic violence and the support shown, the dialogue that is started is critical to ending it.

Ride for Mom https://rideformom.ca/

 

VOSS 580 Conquest Helmet - A Review

VOSS 580 Conquest Helmet - A Review

Helmets, the greatest debate in the motorcycle community is the one about whether or not to wear a helmet.

For me the debate is more along the lines of - what helmet should I wear?
I'm pro this rider's safety!

I have been riding either my own or as a passenger for over 40 years.

Other than my beanie which fit like a glove and kept the debris and sun off my head, I have only
ever had one helmet that was DOT approved that I truly loved and that was the Bell Pit Boss. Notice though that both are open face style helmets.

I have tendencies towards being claustrophobic that can make a full face helmet a non - starter forme. Breathing in the stale air inside the helmet, not unlike having your head under the blankets,
causes me to panic.

I decided to give a modular helmet another try. My reasoning was that if I was in a crash my chin and face would be spared the inevitable road rash.

Kristina Gould from Voss fitted me for the 580 Conquest, I chose bright yellow with the thought
that looking like a mad wasp might make people notice me.

She sent me home with the helmet and the anti fog liner for the lense, all in under $350.00
Canadian.

The Anti Fog PinLock Lense installs like a dream, took 3 seconds.
Learning how to use the drop down inner sun visor and unlock the jaw another 10 seconds.
Learning to take off and put back on the main visor, a little longer, 30 - 40 seconds.

https://www.vosshelmetsusa.com/products/voss-580-modular-anti-fog-pinlock-face-shield-clear

The helmet fits perfectly, it’s not too tight in the ear area.
There is room for prescription glasses without getting a headache from the pressure.

For the size of it, the helmet is very light, and the way it rests on my motorcycle jacket collar in the back makes it feel like you are also wearing a Hanns device in a race car. Your head doesn’t go
back as far as it does with a beanie, that’s for sure!

Surprisingly good field of view too. I did not feel restricted in the vision department at all.

The drop down inner visor is fabulous.
Unlike some brands out there, this inner lense is not flimsy and does not smack your nose either.

The helmet is easy to do up, and the mechanical jaw lifts relatively easily, however the visor locks down pretty hard, causing that uncomfortable in the stomach feeling that those who lean to
claustrophobia will recognize.

One other thing, and this is nothing against the helmet but rather it is about the style of helmet.
I drink a lot of fluids when I ride, and constantly having to lift the jaw up to have a drink was really distracting.

I don’t want to buy or wear a camelback so that means I will be changing helmets.

I gave it the good old college try, several times over the 1,200 K I rode on the weekend,
but nope, riding with the visor up was way more comfortable than with it down and locked in place.

The noise inside the helmet wasn’t bad at all.
In fact it was much quieter than many of the helmets I have tried in the past, including an older
version of the VOSS Modular.

The anti fog lense did its job exceedingly well, but I just felt like I couldn’t breath.

This is truly a beautiful helmet, well constructed, comfortable and I felt very safe in it, but the two
caveats for me were the inability to drink a beverage without lifting the jaw up and not being able
to breathe comfortably when the visor was down and locked in place.

Neither of those two things has anything to do with the helmet.

I will be looking at getting myself the Voss 303 Dual Lens Open Face in the near future.
I like how the sides of the helmet extend past that of the traditional ¾ helmet and think my face
would feel less exposed to road rash.

I look forward to hopefully the same kind of fit and comfort that the 580 Conquest has.

I'll let you know when I get it and have had the chance to ride in it.

To see what Voss has to offer
http://www.vosshelmetsusa.com

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider.

https://www.vosshelmetsusa.com/collections/open-face-helmets/products/303-dual-lens-gloss-white-open-face-helmet-dot