A mixed bag....

A very dear friend of mine passed away on Friday just before midnight. She had cancer and lost the fight. On some levels I feel relief for her that her suffering is over, I feel sadness because it's going to be a while before I get to hear that laugh or see that smile again...

Death is really a celebration of life. A time to remember all of the joy and happiness you shared with someone. Grief is an emotion that is tough to explain and I feel it right now but I also feel an extreme joy...Illona Swan was a very special woman in my life and yes I will miss her deeply. I am however deeply grateful for the time I spent with her, the things she brought in to my life that one can't really measure like love, friendship and caring.

I have had a good weekend in spite of the news of Illona's passing. I believe she is in a better place - one that is pain free and where she will be with other family and friends who have gone on before her. We will miss her here on this earth and we who loved her are all richer and better people for having known her.

My trip home is being delayed so that I can be with family and friends to celebrate her life on Wednesday...

Ride like all around you are blind and can't see you, stay safe - You are important you know!

Belt Drive Betty

Toon Town and Cyclemania

I haven't been to Saskatoon in years and other than the fact that the roads are even worse than I remember I am having a really wonderful time.

I am staying with one of our advertisers, Ani from BlackJack Classic and Vintage Hawgs.
The hospitality of people in the Canadian Heartland hasn't changed. Open, warmhearted...yup, just as I remember.

Saskatchewan only has about 7,500 riders in the province, that said, the show is a decent size and has a fair amount to offer the rider.

The boys from the SIR are here and I finally got to meet some of the gals from the Women in the Wind - the Bridge City Thunder Chapter - what a great bunch of women!

The local HOG chapter is also on hand and they have the coolest display in the place!

I got a chance to see Peter from Thunder City in Regina as they are here with all of the offerings of their shop.

Boutique of Leathers and Grizzly Leather are also here with their latest offerings.
Dean & Sylvia from Raw Power in Regina are also here. As I said - I love the shows, every one is like "Old Home Week"!

Ink alley is a busy and popular spot - every tattoo shop I saw was busy with guns a buzzing.

As I said, I am enjoying myself. It's great to get out of your own town and see what others do!

I'm heading for the shower and getting ready for day two...
Until tomorrow, ride like everyone around you is blind and can't see you - stay safe.

Belt Drive Betty

What a GREAT DAY!

As many of you know I was serving coffee at Loving Hands Family Restaurant yesterday.
I had a ball, never spilled anything on anyone and ate some of the best grub I have had in a restaurant in a while. Really, really good food.

Neal and Andrea are great people, and I enjoyed my time with them.

Neal even let me ride his Ultra and we went for a blast to Luseland. Brent Hoeneker, one of our show 'n' shine participants rode with us. Yes it was a great day.

Now off to Toon town...

Ride like everyone around you is blind...stay safe.
Belt Drive Betty

Getting ready for a day of waitressing

I made it here to Kerrobert SK and getting myself ready to go pour coffee.
Hoping to meet a few of the local riders. Then tonight I head for Toon town and Cyclemania....

Have a great day and ride like everyone around you is blind!

Belt Drive Betty

Some respect could save you HUGE Money...

For those of you who think I preach at you like a nagging mother - get ready for some more.

I want all of you who read this blog or use my web site to understand a few things...

If you get caught riding your machine like a cowboy/girl and you have loud pipes you are in for a starting fine of $300.

Noise pollution is a huge problem, there are numerous studies on it's affects on people. Hypertension, anxiety, headaches are just a few.

Noise - it's everywhere there are people and the more densely populated our cities get, the more noise is generated, the bigger the problem becomes.

Cars with loud stereos that go by your house rattling the windows because of the base, 4 x 4's with chipped engines and loud exhaust, truckers who use their Jacobs brakes in town and motorcyclists who ride their machines with the "Look at me I ride a bike" syndrome - be prepared - you are in the radar of the police services.

What do all of the above have in common? They are show offs. They have a need for people to notice them - you could even call them ego maniacs.

I am not talking about the people who drive or ride with respect here.

There are many car owners who have loud "competition" stereos who do not feel the need to cruise through your neighborhood with their stereos pounding.

There are many truck drivers who do not drive through towns and cities using their Jacobs brakes - I'd call these "professional truck drivers".

There are many riders who have loud pipes on their bikes who are respectful and mindful that not everyone is enamored of the sound and therefore use their right hand with care.

For those of you who haven't figured it out yet - LOUD PIPES - used in a show off manor are going to net you a stunting ticket - being a show off is going to hurt you in the pocket book and I say good on you.

Not only do you infringe on the rights of others with your disrespectful ways - you give the entire motorcycle community a black eye.

It's time to wake up.

I know that we are going to hear a whole bunch of whining from those who get tickets this season - it happens every year. There will be some who get unfairly ticketed - but instead of blaming the police services - look at the people you ride with.

Look at your fellow riders - if they have loud pipes on their bike and a huge amount of testosterone, you might want to reconsider going for that putt with them as you may also find your wallet a little lighter.

It all comes down to this - respect and personal choice...
Think about the bling you could buy for your bike with $300, think about a nice hotel room with a jacuzzi tub and a fabulous dinner with drinks that you could get with $300...THINK - that's all I am saying...

Stay safe and ride like everyone around you is blind.

Belt Drive Betty

Loud pipes save lives...

Now we riders all know that in certain urban riding situations loud pipes can save your life. The motorist who starts drifting into your lane can be made aware of you beside them and this can and has saved many a life and prevented many an injury. You and I who ride get that. And truly - that is the MAJOR time when loud pipes save lives.

What we who ride NEED to get - is this:

Rapping your pipes to show off and attract attention takes away from the life saving value of loud pipes. YOU HURT the cause when you use them for the wrong purposes.

Well tuned pipes that have the appropriate back pressure for the engine you are running are often - not always - but often loud - especially if you have had performance work done to your bike.

Now I love the rumble of the Harley engine. I love loud pipes - I am a rider and I really understand the love of that sound BUT - there is a time and a place. The open highway...

The need to feed the ego is the wrong reason to rap your pipes. Period, end of story, you being a show off on the street, you being thoughtless of the needs of others is HURTING our community more than it helps us!
There are people working night shift who sleep during the day, there are people in hospitals, old folks homes that need quiet. Mothers with new babies who are sick and finally sleeping… There people who just plain do not appreciate or get the love of the sound and while you have rights - SO DO THEY! Remember every "Right "has a cost and that cost is responsibility.

If you want to keep the privileged of having loud pipes - if you want that self defense tool when you are riding, then THINK BEFORE YOU TWIST THAT THROTTLE HARD IN TOWN!

I don't care what car drivers and their boom boxes are doing, or 4 x 4's that have mufflers on them worse that truckers using their Jacob's brakes in town do.

I care about US, motorcyclists - OUR Community and it's right to have that self defense mechanism at our disposal and the thoughtless jerks that put that tool in jeopardy every day and all because they need to feel the thunder, they need to have people notice them...make me angry.

If you want to stunt, race or otherwise grab attention. If you want people to notice you and cheer you on there is a place for you - it's called the race track - that goes to everyone who drives a motorized vehicle - not just motorcyclists, but as I said this article isn't just about rude, selfish arrogant behaviour on the part of motorists in general - its about that behaviour when you are on your motorcycle and how your actions jeopardize my safety by contributing to the fight against loud pipes.

Loud pipes do save lives but if we don't police the situation ourselves it will be done for us- if we feed the egos of others by condoning the actions of show offs, then we will loose a valuable tool in the prevention of accident and injury for motorcyclists- think about it...
Noise pollution - are you a part of the solution or part of the problem?

Accident and injury prevention - one day you might find yourself needing those loud pipes and oh yah, you are riding a bike with factory pipes that are whisper quiet because loud pipes were outlawed. Now, I wonder how that happened.

Just my two bits worth....



Ride like everyone around you is blind...stay safe.


Belt Drive Betty