Behaviour or Race & why Black Bike Week is under the spotlight

Atlantic Beach SC is in the spotlight again as Atlantic Beach Bikefest, a.k.a Black Bike Week apparently had lots of problems again this year and Governor Haley is planning on shutting it down.  

After three murders and an increase in stolen motorcycles, traffic tickets and fatalities, the Governor has had enough.


According to the Last Refuge, in a 24 hour period ten people were shot, three fatally during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest a.k.a Black Bike Week. This year the Rough Ryders "gang" were evicted from the event because there were too many members present apparently.

An article from Top Conservative News shows three different videos that show some of what went on and those videos may shed some light on why there is a differentiation between the Myrtle Beach Bike Week event that is held the week before Black Bike Week.

MS News Now has two reports on Black Bike Week, one of them comparing the statistics of it to the Harley Bike Week the week before. The comparison graphs point to Black Bike Week being a bigger drain on resources than the Harley Bike Week with trends over 10 years being shown (2005 - 2014).

The Mayor of Atlantic Beach SC is none too happy. 
He feels his relatively peaceful and quiet city is getting a bad rap over the situation.
AND YET - the Mayor and the town had worked hard to increase the amount of vendors for Black Bike Week by dropping vendor fees and they were collecting economic data on what the event brings to the city.

The Atlantic Beach Bikefest starts on the heels of the Myrtle Beach Bike Week and has over the years been surrounded by controversy and the NAACP, has been a watch dog to ensure that there is no discrimination of Colored people.  They have successfully sued restaurants and other businesses for Civil Rights Act violations when those owners wanted to close their doors only during this particular week.

In past years hoteliers have complained of their rooms being trashed during Black Bike Week and restauranteurs have complained of high numbers of dining and dashing, others see extreme reductions in their tills over that week and the whole racial issue flares its ugly head time and again. 

I have watched videos from Atlantic Beach Bike Week and Myrtle Beach Bike Week and I have my opinions on why people are so upset in Atlantic Beach - behaviour not race seems to be the problem.  

I wonder why the city of Atlantic Beach decided to court larger crowds, extend the hours and lower vendor fees? This event has been fraught with issues and challenges in the past, did they think larger numbers would reduce that?

Perhaps faced with a $127,000 policing bill they needed the revenue. Perhaps they were willing to see the event grow because it could benefit the region.  Perhaps they did so to prove to the NAACP that there is NO discrimination.  Whatever the reason, it backfired.

3 people are dead. 7 are injured and a city and its residents are concerned and rightly so.

Although the Governor seems to be talking tough, the city seems to know that they have to prepare for Black Bike Week because no matter what, riders will still show up in their town, official event or not. 

For there to be no tension over this event, I suggest that the organizers of Black Bike Week and its supporters and attendees look at how participants are behaving.  

If the same behaviours were exhibited at a non racial - meaning everyone welcome - events, do you not think businesses would close up for the event?

If the same behaviours were exhibited at a non racial - meaning everyone welcome - event, do you not think the people who live in and pay taxes to the city would not be up in arms?

There have been issues in the past in Sturgis SD, a non racial - everyone welcome - event.

Those incidents, like the shooting in Custer State Park in 2008, have seen no colours bylaws stepped up in the licensed establishments, there have been thoughtless boobs who have to do that burn out or otherwise show off and ruin it for others, there have been incidents of lewd conduct that have resulted in charges.  

The issue at any large gathering of people that involves alcohol is BEHAVIOUR, CONDUCT and at non racial events, those behaviours are not tolerated. Police presence increases with the size of the event and the history of the event and its attendees conduct.

Laws are in place to protect the innocent bystander, the citizen and tax payer and the non motorcycling visitor of the city/region hosting an event, from the choices of STUPID - SELFISH PEOPLE no matter WHAT RACE, WHAT RELIGION, WHAT GENDER.

I know this much, being politically correct, being fearful of the NAACP and their successes with Civil Rights lawsuits is going to make a bad situation worse.

Be you Black, White, Green, Purple, Red, Orange...if you conduct yourselves like asshats, don't pull the racial card to defend your behaviour. 

Suck it up - if you behaved badly, take your lumps.  For those who were there to have a good time, peaceably, do you enjoy the intense scrutiny the behaviours of SOME of your fellow riders has brought down on you?

Most of us "white" people or people who don't give a shit about race, feel the EXACT SAME about those in our circles who conduct themselves like asshats and bring on extreme costs, extreme presence of police etc.

Why is it so expensive to vend at events? Why is it so expensive to attend some events?

Because asshats have increased police presence and someone has to pay for that.

Because asshats have left behind so much garbage and been so disrespectful causing damage of all sorts and someone has to pay for that.

And that would be the rest of us, Black, White, Green, Purple, RED or ORANGE, that go to events to meet people, spend time with our friends, take in great riding and sight seeing, good music and have no need to show off, be rude or crude or destroy shit.

Having fun is one thing.

If you are a visitor to a community who is hosting an event, WHY destroy the relationships that the businesses, the riders, the police and the hosting community need to have with conduct that is so over the top? 

People are the problem. People, who when they consume large amounts of alcohol and or consume various narcotics too often become rude, disrespectful, unsafe and sometimes violent. People with hidden agendas and egos the size of Texas or those who think they are invincible...

Be it football games, racing events, music festivals, hockey games, protests or any other large gathering of people, there will always be those who have to destroy the good time/the good purpose for the many, to satisfy their own selfish desires.

It is BEHAVIOUR that is the issue, not RACE but BEHAVIOUR.

Can anyone else see that, or is it just me?

In Other News:

According to an article in the Guardian Newspaper today, the RCMP in Prince Edward Island is set to start targeting aggressive riders, offensive motorcycle noise, drugs and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Begin Quote: They will also conduct enforcement initiatives targeting aggressive drivers with a focus on motorcycles and offensive noise during the motorcycle season. End Quote

Begin Quote: There will also be increased intelligence sharing, with a focus on drugs and outlaw motorcycle groups. End Quote

Out of Montreal today is a story in the Gazette about a woman who stopped suddenly on the highway to avoid hitting a family of ducks and subsequently a father and daughter on a motorcycle died.

The driver, Emma Czornobaj, 25, of Châteauguay is facing 4 charges, 2 of criminal negligence and 2 of dangerous driving causing death. It took over a year for her to be charged. If convicted of criminal negligence she faces life in prison and if convicted of dangerous driving causing death she faces 14 years in prison.

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that the Hells Angels have won another round in the legal fight to regain their clubhouse in Nanaimo BC.

Begin Quote: Justice Mary Saunders, writing for a three-judge appeal court panel, said the government appeared to want to remove Widdifield to gain strategic advantage in the long running civil case between the director and several Nanaimo Hells Angels, as well as Angels Acres - the company that owns the disputed clubhouse.

"The prize in this application appears to be the availability of a Charter argument in the forfeiture proceedings," Saunders said in her reasons released Monday, explaining that Widdifield could make a constitutional argument on admissibility of evidence that wouldn't be available to the company. End Quote

The Civil Forfeiture Director has filed similar cases against the East End & Kelowna Clubhouse stating that they were used for criminal activities. 

The Hells Angels are fighting back with a suit that challenges the constitutionality of B.C.'s Civil Forfeiture Act.

In the US, the funeral of Maya Angelou, the renowned poet and spiritualist is being guarded by the group 2 Million Bikers.  According the article on Jezebel, even though 2 Million Bikers does not ascribe to Angelou's beliefs, they are going to form a wall to protect her service from Westboro Bapist Church demonstrators because they believe in Freedom of Speech for everyone.

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, not the ride!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

The Ford Mustang, Glasses and Online Shopping for Eyewear

So what do these three things have in common, the Ford Mustang, eyeglasses and shopping for eyeglasses online?

Well, a while back there was a press release from Mustang and Clearly Contacts that Clearly Contacts, an online eyeglass shop had joined forces to promote the brand.
Mustang had decided that like many other automobile lines, it wanted its own brand of eyewear.

I agreed to try a pair to do a product review for ClearlyContacts.ca

The process of ordering online was simple enough, although I did have a question about whether the frames which said they were for males were unisex or if there was a female line. There was no female line and the frames are supposedly Unisex.

Under Product Info it says the Frame is MALE

I ordered the 1904 Titanium Frost frames with my single vision prescription.

Ordering anything as personal as glasses on line is tough for me.  I am fussy and I hate waiting for what I want. The frames you choose might not fit you and you might have to send them back for a different pair.  If your prescription is too involved like bifocals or progressives - well that can be a disaster because your eyes can measure differently (distance of pupil to glasses lens) and it can be tough to get the frames to fit and allow the lenses to do their job well.

The Fitting Chart on the frame page:

They actually tell you to go to a local store to try on frames to find ones that fit....Sorry but I find that to be a wee bit offensive. And if I am going to go to a local shop, where I probably know at least one of the employees, I am probably going to buy them there instead of online. But hey, that's just me!

Now, I got the glasses about 5 days after I ordered them and they came with a small bottle of lens cleaner, a lens cleaning cloth and a small screw driver in a clear plastic pouch and a glasses case.

The glasses fit me, the prescription seems right,  the service was reasonably fast and the transaction straight forward. That's the good news!  The bad news is that I think Mustang - the brand of cars did themselves a great disservice.

They chose to go with just the word Mustang instead of their famous Horse.

How much more representative of the brand would those glasses be if they had the image of the horse on the side instead of:

The array of choice also left me flat, there was simply nothing in the Mustang Line that truly appealed to me.

Ranging from $79 - $99, it seems that unlike their car brand, that is a higher end brand, they opted for the cheaper, lower end frames to put their name on.

Pride of ownership is what the Mustang Car is all about, the race history, the loyal following but something tells me that although having their own brand of eyewear may seem prestigious, they could have taken much more care in the quality and the variety of the frames they offered the Mustang lover.

I give ClearlyContacts 3 out of 5 gas tanks

While the process was smooth enough and I encountered no pitfalls, I am not sure how I feel about the company after reading the fitting suggestions for the frames. I do after all prefer to shop local and support my local economy and the very suggestion that I should use my local shop to try frames on and then copy down measurements to use for shopping on line feels SOOOO wrong to me.

I give the Mustang Line 1 out of 5 gas tanks.

Shame on you Mustang, you should put much more thought into the quality and design of your glasses line than you did. If branding was the goal of creating your own line of glasses - you failed miserably.

You could have also chosen some frames more suitable to we ladies.

And that folks is how I feel about the Ford Mustang, Glasses and ordering eyeglasses on line.

Belt Drive Betty

I'd rather swear like a truck driver or a sailor...

My recent crash has put me in the mood to write about safety gear and riding safely.

Why?

Because I hope and pray that this missive will save the life and or the the hide of someone I care about and who knows, that could be you.

I have lost many people I love in the motorcycle community over the almost 40 years I have been a part of it. The crew I rode with back in the 70's and 80's wore jeans and sometimes chaps, beanies or no helmet when and where the law allowed and often just a leather vest, with no shirt or jacket.

I was one of those riders/passengers. I often rode on sunny warm days with just good motorcycle boots, jeans and a vest and the only helmet I owned was a beanie.

I thought I was hot stuff.  I looked good, and I loved the way the sun felt on my skin, I hated it when a bug or rock hit me, but when I was in my 20's & 30's it was a small price to pay for looking good.

EGO - VANITY, call it what you will - STUPIDITY!

Then I got a wake up call and realized looking good was a stupid reason to not wear proper gear.

In 1986, riding on the back of the '84 FXR with my then old man, Ron LePoidvin,  I witnessed something so horrific that I was puking my guts out.

Not unlike the girl featured in this photo, (I found doing a Google Images search on HmongPlus.com), the girl on the back of this dude's sport bike was wearing a bikini,

AND she was much better endowed than the girl featured here. She was at least a 38 double D and instead of wearing high heels, she was wearing flip flops, but she had on that full faced helmet.
I was rather envious of the buxom young lady, she looked great.

Well, buddy goes roaring by us as we are entering a construction zone on the outskirts of Vernon BC.

In less than 2 minutes, we came upon the most horrific scene I have ever witnessed.

The rider centre punched the back end of a pick up, but unlike the rider in the photo above, he was wearing all the gear.  He ended up in the box of the pick up, she got launched over the pick up and ended up skidding down the shoulder of the pavement for some 200 feet or better. I don't remember where the bike ended up, because I was so horrified.

While buddy ended up with some broken bones and a long recovery, he survived the crash.

His pretty, pretty passenger was dead. Her beautiful face intact thanks to the full faced helmet she wore but her statuesque figure was now nothing more than ground hamburger, you could see her ribs  where once those glorious Double D 38's had been.  Her thighs and legs and her feet and arms were no better.  It is a sight that I see every time I see another rider not wearing good gear.

I am sure her parents were grateful that they could still view her pretty face at her funeral.

Having been young once, although it was a long time ago, I still remember the feeling, men wolf whistling at me, feeding my ego, telling me how hot I looked in that leather vest with no jacket.

But that day cured me of wanting to look sexy on a motorcycle.

I learned really quickly that there was plenty of time to look hot once I got to a rally or event.
When I was off the bike, I could stash my leather jacket and don just the vest and still have my ego fed. In my mid 50's today, I don't give a hoot about sexy or having my ego fed, although it still feels nice once in a while.

After my crash on May 24th, 2014, I could have looked like Sean Stanley from the UK who shared this photo of himself on Facebook:

His crash happened last year in the UK at 25 MPH.
His comment was:  To all the people on motorbikes wearing t-shirts and shorts thinking they are cool, this is the result of coming off at 25mph

Imagine the pain that the road rash he sported caused him.
Imagine the scars and the gravel that he's probably still having surface from his wounds to this day!

My crash happened at about 30-35KPH on gravel, I was never more grateful for good gear.

Instead of looking like Sean, I just have some torn cartilage in my chest around my sternum, deep tissue bruising, sore muscles and a black bruise on my thigh.

No road rash and no gravel to pick out of my hide.  No trip to the hospital.

I was wearing:
Draggin' Jeans that cost about $250.00 - no chaps:

Kevlar Impact Zones

Not a mark on the jeans!

Held Gloves from Angel Wing Trading Inc. and sold by WestCoast ROAR in Mill Bay, BC that cost around $150.00:

The glove is torn but my hide on my hand is not.

Viking Cycle Leather Jacket from Motorcycle House that cost about $100:

The brand new jacket on its maiden ride -  the leather is worn, but I have no road rash on my right arm!

Vest from Leather & Steel in Fruitvale BC - Cost about $90 (I have worn this vest for 12 years and am going to miss it...

Tore the snap right out of the vest and tore some of my favourite pins off of it,  but again, I have zero road rash

Milwaukee Boots bought at Konquer Motorcycles, Kelowna BC and cost about $165:

Some road rash on these babies but my feet are in tact and no worse for wear!

My VOSS helmet from Roadhouse Distribution in Vancouver BC, sold by Leather & Steel in Fruitvale BC and cost about $100:

The ear protector is shot, but my ear is fine, it was sure filled with dirt and grit though!

I would much rather get up off the ground swearing like a truck driver or a sailor and being sad that my bike was written off than be carted off to the hospital in an ambulance and facing a long and painful recovery.  

I'd much rather pull into the driveway at home in a truck and trailer than be in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

The cost of my crash?

My bike got written off and a few of my contents from the bike will need to be either repaired or replaced.   I was able to replace my bike with a bit of financial help from my husband to bridge the gap between insurance and the price of replacing.

My Held Gloves ($150)

My helmet ($100) and I have a helmet from LeatherUp to do a product review on already sitting here so I am good to go.

My vest ($90) which was 12 years old, could be repaired - and even though I love it, it should be replaced. 

My jacket ($100) will need to be replaced. 

Since I was doing a product review on the jacket, there was no physical cost to me and I own 2 other riding jackets, so I am good to go.

Your gear is meant to save your life and to allow you to ride again and be a consumer again.

Your gear is meant to add freedom and quality to your life, to enriched the ride, not detract from it.

Your gear is meant to protect you from road debris, rocks, sand, cigarettes, garbage bags, road snakes and every other bit of crap people can create.

Your gear is meant to give your loved ones a bit of reassurance that you will be home, reasonably safe and sound, because they love and need you.

I am blessed to be alive and it is because these manufacturers and the shops who sell these products really do seem to want you to be able to buy more gear from them when you need to replace it.  

You are, after all of no use to them as a customer if you don't survive.

That said, you still need to really research the gear you are thinking of buying!  

What appeals to me may not appeal to you.

Read product reviews, watch videos, ask your fellow riders - RESEARCH!!!! 

Not only can it save you money but it can save you in many other ways!

You should try the gear on before you buy to ensure a good fit, so go to your local shop and support your local economy whenever you can.  

If you live in a remote place where online shopping is the only way to shop outside of once and twice a year trips to larger centres, then make sure you review the refunds and shipping policies of the online companies you choose to work with.  And don't forget to ask that retailer in the larger centre that you shop in if they will ship to you and if so what their returns policy might be.  Sometimes a phone call to a not so local, local can be well placed!

You just never know if you can support your local business, because when you are a rider, local means a lot different to us than it does to others!

What say you?

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

Shopping for a new bike to you bike, the pitfalls, the challenges and the questions

It's been a long time since I have had to shop for a motorcycle, but now that I am there, I thought I would share with you some of the challenges one faces.

On my trusty old Street Glide

Now I am in a unique situation compared to many. Firstly, it's riding season and as a reporter I need to be out there, getting the stories, the videos and the interviews. I have a week to find a bike and get things wrapped up with insurance so I can afford the bike I need.

My needs are specific. Tour Pack, Hard Bags and comfort for the long haul.

I need a bike with reasonably low mileage, as I am a high mile rider and I need warranty that is really decent because I can't afford to be down long when crap happens.

I also don't have deep pockets contrary to the thoughts of many. Because of the Sturgis North Lawsuit for defamation that I am fighting, I have to watch EVERY PENNY I spend and from here on in that is going to become even more so, to ensure I can pay a lawyer to prove my innocence.

What I get from insurance and every bit of my overdraft is what it will take to get me into a ride that has what I need. I have no delusions about getting the ride I want - that just isn't happening on my budget.

I am not a brand snob. I loved my Street Glide, but I have been looking at Victory's, BMW Sport Touring bikes, and Harley's. I ruled out most imports like Ducati and Aprilia and sadly even the BMW simply because of where I live and the lack of services available on those brands.
I considered Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki, but they just don't appeal to me at all and all for a variety of reasons. There are some limitations to those brands that are deal breakers for me.

I want to stick to brands that can be serviced where I live not 5 hours away like in Edmonton.
My husband is well versed on HD's so I wouldn't have to always go to Edmonton for my service work if I bought an HD, but I am leaning toward a Victory as Gaudin's Honda sells them and I have a good relationship with Alan, the owner.

BUT, it also comes down to what I can afford to spend.

The way I see it right now, after all of my investigations, it is a duke it out comest between the Victory Cross Country Tour and The Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic and a few private sale Street Glides I have found.

I have spoken to over 30 dealers from the BC coast to Ontario and even a couple of American ones.
I have spent countless hours on Kijiji, Autotrader , etc., researching prices , etc., and speaking to different owners.

What I have experienced in this process, that is far from over, has left me wondering what in the HE DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS has happened to customer service and the art of sales and negotiation.

In my searching, I first decided to call every dealer that is connected to our newspaper and the Rider Friendly Business Association. I started with the H-D shops because I did so love my Street Glide and hoped to find a good used one. Not happening right now at least, a new one starts at $28,000+ and there are very few used ones around and when they can be found they average $24,999 before taxes etc.  Way out of my budget. The Street Glide is the most popular touring bike Harley makes!

Everyone of the RFBA dealers I takes to has been helpful, although only a few have had any kind of used inventory to discuss.

I called a central Alberta dealer, the salesman never even asked my name, just did his best to sell me on a 2014 Project Rushmore Street Glide.  Only $14,000 out of my price range.

I called two southern Alberta dealers, one was attentive and sympathetic but really had no used inventory to discuss and was diplomatic enough NOT to bring up the new bikes and financing.

The other tried to put me on a Slim, not taking into consideration any of my physical needs and never asked for my name.

I called north central dealers and one didn't have the time of day for me based on the dollar amount I had to spend and the other has gone above and beyond in trying to aid me.

I did not give my local dealer a call but I did check out their used inventory on line.
There was nothing there for me.

I tried 7 BC dealers, one was just straight up front that they had nothing on the floor for used inventory, another who didn't ask my name tried to put me into a Slim and then told me that the dollars I had wouldn't put me into anything close to what I want. He actually inferred that I wanted too much for the money I have - well maybe so, but I will keep looking thanks...

Three others have bent over backwards trying to find something they could put me in and are looking at options for me and one didn't even have the decency to call me back.

Of the three who are working with me, one admitted that the 2010 Ultra with 4,000 KM's on it is the best deal for me and that he couldn't come close to touching it unless I wanted a custom painted Ultra which is not very practical for a gal who seldom has time to wash her own bike, I'd destroy the $10K paint job on it in a year.

I spoke to three dealers in Ontario and only one has really listened and is doing their best to see what they can do for me with numbers.

So far in the HD department I have l bike that is really close to my budget (About $1,400 out of my reach), and two I don't have numbers on yet, I should have them today.

In the Victory Department, I spoke to several dealers and the problem there is a total lack of used inventory and I cannot really afford the new non current bikes either, they are all $5-6,000 out of my budget range.

Now for the questions I have asked about the bikes I have been looking at and some of the comments from some of the sales people...

Here is how I started pretty much every conversation unless I KNEW the sales person on the other end of the line.

Hi there (salespersons name if they gave it), I am looking for a used touring bike.
I need a motorcycle with a tour pack and hard bags. I would like a bike that either has or can have extended warranty on it. I ride a lot, average 20,000 K per year,  and would like to find something with lower KM's on it and preferably (in the case of the H-D's) 2010 or newer so I am on the new frame style.

Q: What kind of mileage is on the bike?
A: I'm not sure, but it's an immaculate bike, blue and silver in colour.

Q: Does it have a tour pack?
A: No it doesn't

Q: What does the warranty cover?
A: Oh, you know, everything the manufacturer's doesn't and more.

These were the craziest of the answers I got to some of my questions.

And why is it every salesperson save two asked me what colour I wanted first instead of talking about the equipment I need. I don't care what colour it is, I don't ride the colour.

For people who are so desperate to sell you something, why is it they don't try to build a relationship with you?  I couldn't believe how many people never asked my name - that BLEW me away!

I am NOT BRAND LOYAL but I could be dealership loyal, if people care to earn my business.
Just because I don't have a lot to spend now doesn't mean that someday soon I won't. So far three dealerships are trying really hard to earn my business. 3 out of 30 and then these dealers wonder WHY so many people go south of the border to buy.

My business is one that is supported solely by advertisers and I never get a chance to do much in the way of sales calls because of admin time, writing, editing etc and the charitable work we do here at Belt Drive Betty Media.  I start training two sales people this weekend so that this business can grow and do more.  As it grows, I can see my way clear to buying the bike of my dreams, but for now, they are all out of my reach - this is truly a hunt for the bike I need, not the one I want.

On the private sale end of things there have been a few interesting machines out there but the owners don't seem to be willing to budge on prices and they want all the money for their machines and then some.

It's riding season and so I am going to pay a premium price for any used bike if I want to ride and do my job this season.

I will fill you in on this epic hunt as it blossoms into a new to me ride.

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

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

All gravel roads are not created equal + Freedom of the Press Poker Run & Rally Update

When you are on a big touring bike, gravel is not something you really want to be riding on.

Unfortunately this past weekend on the Freedom of the Press Defense Fund Poker Run and Rally, out by Mulhurst Bay, our ride captain missed his turn and we all ended up on a gravel road and the gravel was very loose.

I got caught in some loose stuff and went down, and that would have been bad enough on its own, but then another rider hit me from behind.




The damage to the FXR(Corrected from DYNA) he was riding was pretty severe as he bent the front forks, the handle bars and damaged the tank. He ended up with a severely swollen hand as well.

My bike didn't fare too well either. The front fender was damaged and the crash bar took four guys to pull it back so that the floor board could be pulled down and the fairing separated and is pretty scared up. The bike could have been ridden if it hadn't been rear ended.

He hit me hard enough that the back fender was driven into the tire and could not be pulled away from the tire enough for the wheel to turn without binding.  It took 5 guys to load the bike on a trailer because that back tire just kept skidding.

I have ridden gravel roads before, they are not my favourite thing at all, but hard packed gravel I don't mind near so much, like the Top of the World highway, although very challenging and nerve wracking on a touring bike, I rode it very successfully.

I had another occasion, riding with the Regina CAV, where we ended up on a loose gravel road and I caught a ridge and the front end of the bike started swinging violently, but by talking to myself to keep my hands soft, elbows down and rolling on the throttle gently, I was able to pull myself out of it.

I did not get so lucky this time, it happened too fast.

Loose stuff like we were on is treacherous and as you can see from the footage below it happens so fast.

This road had tons of washboard on it and the gravel was not packed down yet from vehicle travel. No one was very happy to be on it, that was for sure and our ride captain felt like crap about it.

I am going to say it again folks, crashes happen and they can happen to anyone and they happen fast.

Because we were wearing proper riding gear, we seem to have come through relatively unscathed.

My Draggin' Jeans prevented road rash and although I did end up with a nice bruise on my thigh, the jeans don't have a mark on them!

My new Viking Cycle Jacket from Motorcycle House did its job and again, it's hardly any worse for the wear.

My chest is sore where I took the right hand grip of my handle bar in the chest and I am stiff from head to toe today, but I am alive and will ride again and that's what matters.

The other rider is also going to be OK, while he suffered a very swollen left hand, and is stiff and sore, he too will ride another day.

The Freedom of the Press Poker Run and Rally was a huge success for something that was organized and promoted in such a short space of time. It was a bit disorganized, and frantic, but successful.

The Poker Run generated $1300.00.

Orland from the CAV won first place and donated his $300 back to the cause and Yvonne Walsh donated half of her second place $200 to the cause.  I don't off the top of my head remember who won 3rd place's $150 and not because he didn't donate anything back, but because I simply can't remember and haven't had time to go through the paperwork.

The poker run generated $1150.00 towards the cause.

We made $90 selling 50/50 tickets and another $160 from burger sales.

I was also given $570.00 in straight donations.

The silent auction generated another $915.00 for a total of $2,885 raised! 

We were so late getting back in that some of my volunteers had to leave and we didn't sell much for 50/50 tickets.

By the time I paid for fuel to have the electric bed that was donated by Mark LaFountain delivered to Doug Jenson,  the DJ, printing and a few other small expenses to put the run on and paid for fuel, in a borrowed truck to get me and my ride home, the total netted was $2150.00

We also sold some $700 in tee shirts but that money is going straight to the tee shirt guy!

The silent auction for Doug Jenson generated $430 and I delivered the money to the man personally along with a few gifts.

He has asked that I thank everyone who cared enough to contribute - he deeply appreciated the helping hand.

All in all it was a very successful run in spite of the crash.

The showing of support by so many people over the course of the day blew me away.

I want to thank Justin King for putting on a stunt show for us, everyone loved the show!

Clarence and the gang from Blackjack's Roadhouse in Nisku - what a great job everyone! 

Thank you to all of the staff who looked after we riders so well.

Blair Weber, our ride captain, in spite of the missed turn, he did a great job.

To my brothers and sisters form the CAV who manned three of the poker run stops, THANK YOU!

Tracy Nessler who helped me out at the event in the morning selling 50/50 tickets - thank you!

I want to say a special thank you to Cori from Steel Horses Photography and her cousins, the Dinning's, who lent me a truck and trailer to get home with. You guys went above and beyond!

I love this community and your support means far more than words will ever be able to express.

I will be doing a proper write up for the Busted Knuckle to acknowledge our sponsors and all of the supporters that I can remember. The day was such a blur!

To see photos from the day visit Steel Horse Photography's Facebook Page!

I need to sign off now as I have to go the hospital to get checked out and the RCMP station to file my written report.

I will let you all know what the fate of my bike is and whether or not I will be riding the rest of the season or not.  Although I have collision coverage, the bike is 7 years old and all I will be getting is fair market value if it is a write off and I will never be able to replace the glide if that's the case.

I will also follow up with the other rider to see how he fared.  

It was a crappy thing to have happen but it could have been far worse!

Have a great Monday everyone and watch this coming week's Busted Knuckle Chronicles for the article on the Freedom of the Press Poker Run & Rally.

If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider wearing good riding gear, you just never know when it will be your turn to slide instead of ride...

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

A great day to ride

Today will be my first long haul on my trusty old Street Glide and I am looking forward to the ride to Nisku with HUGE anticipation.

It's sunny and gorgeous here in Grande Prairie, AB I live and the forecast, if we can really trust it, is supposed to be for great weather tomorrow.

Our local Toys for Tots group has their Knees in The Breeze Run tomorrow and sadly I have to miss it as I am the guest of honour at the Belt Drive Betty Defense Fund Poker Run & Rally being gel at Blackjack's in Nisku.  Registration begins at Blackjacks Roadhouse on Nisku at 8 am with the ride leaving at 10 AM.

The event was originally set up by Blair Weber of Edmonton, a supporter of the Busted Knuckle Chronicles, and he will be the ride captain for the event taking riders on a 250 KM ride through rural Alberta!

After the poker run we will end up back at Blackjack's for a BBQ, 50/50 draws, silent auction and a stunting show being put on by none other than Justin King!

Dan & Donna Aykroyd

The silent auction has some amazing items up for grabs including the opportunity to ride in the first group (position # 3) in the Mighty Peace Harley-Davidson Aykroyd Family Ride taking place August 9th.  Donated by the Philip J Currie Dinosaur Museum,  this opportunity includes a commemorative patch for both rider and passenger!  If you want to ensure that you get to ride in the event, you can order your tickets online!


In Alberta, a rider in Calgary succumbed to his injuries after colliding with a deer in the city's south side.

In New Brunswick, graduated licensing is coming next spring.

In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Bacchus MC has moved in, the neighbours say they feel safer with the there.

In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan motorcycle only noise testing begins after council approved a new bylaw.

No matter where you live, there are a ton of events happening this weekend - to find the event you want to attend visit www.canadianmotorcycleevents.com  or our Canadian Motorcycle Events Facebook Page.

Ride safe, make sure you ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Getting ready for a great fundraiser

Thanks to a certain person who shall for now remain unnamed, the Rider Friendly Phone Book will be about 5 - 6 weeks late getting out.

This person backed out of their contract after stringing me along for 6 weeks and now I have to decide whether to just let it go or pursue other options to recover the cash.  In business as in life,  your word is supposed to mean something. Contracts are supposed to mean something but I have no heart to fight anyone else right now.

It also means I have about 400 phone calls to make to let people know the books are going to be late and there is not a damned thing I can do about it - at least I haven't figured out a way - yet but I am working on it.

Our website overhauls and our new apps will hopefully make up for some of the inconvenience of it all.  Watch for their unveiling very soon!

On to the topic of the day...Getting ready for a great fundraiser!

As many of you know I am being sued by Ray Sasseville, Joan Hansen and Sturgis North/Canada.
I need to raise the money to fight this lawsuit and this coming weekend will be an important one for me. We have the Freedom of the Press Poker Run and Rally happening at Blackjacks in Nisku, AB, on Saturday.

Cost is $20 per hand for the Poker run which leaves Blackjacks at 10 AM and returns between 2-3PM. The BBQ will be on, a DJ will be spinning tunes, there will be a few vendors, 50/50 draws and silent auction items.

 Justin King, stunter extraordinaire will be on hand to do a stunting demo! Steel Horses Photography will be on hand as well!

So why do I need to raise funds?  Why am I being sued?

I wish to draw your attention to the documents of their claims against me on my defense fund page - (right hand side - 1/2 way down) and to this letter from their lawyer with their latest and newest claims against me. Before now I was only able to share part of this letter, but I can now share it in it's entirety as it is formally part of public record and can be purchased for download on the BC Court Services site:

According to them, I have had a vendetta since BEFORE the 2012 event and yet, I produced their newsletter, I was a sponsor, a reporter and a vendor at the 2012 event and I never said anything negative about them until well after the event.

My lawyer has crafted the rebuttal letter with my counter offer to settle - but until the draft is edited and sent to the other parties, I am not allowed to reveal it's contents just yet, but when I am, I will share it with you, but again not until it is available in the public domain of BC Court Services.

In the meantime....I need to be prepared

I need to raise a minimum of $3,500 this weekend to pay the next round of bills attached to my defense - lawyer, research assistant etc...and If Sturgis North/Canada, Ray and Joan do not accept my counter offer to settle, my lawyer has told me to prepare for a $50,000 bill to get us into court to prove I have done my job properly and that nothing I have said or provided for evidence is out of line or libellous as it is was in the public domain and was said by others.

The very heart of my defense is Freedom of the Press, freedom of speech and freedom of opinion.
To read everything I printed visit my defense fund page.

As a sponsor, rider and vendor who attended both events, I am entitled to my opinion and as a former event coordinator myself, the dissection of the event. As a reporter, I am allowed to bring up the facts that pertain to the event and it's coordinators.

I am looking forward to seeing a lot of people out this weekend.

If I raise more money than needed to fight this suit, I will be donating the extra money to another worthy cause, Doug Jenson - a local Edmonton musician who was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and is in need of an electric hospital bed and lift.

We will have a silent auction table devoted to my good friend Doug - I hope we can raise some funds for him too. His sister Kennedy will be on hand and Terry Evans from K97 is going to try and join us for the ride!

It is my fondest hope that you will come out and support me and the Freedoms this country affords us.

If you can't come out but would still like to support me, you can buy a Tee Shirt through Tee Spring to support me or make a direct donation to my defence fund.

I thank all who have already contributed, those who can only offer moral support and those who are going to come out to the fundraiser on Saturday.  No matter how you can or have supported me, it is all important to me - the letters, the emails, the phone calls and of course the funds.

I love this community and want to keep working to protect and promote it for years to come!

Thank you for all the prayers for my husband, he returns to work on a trial basis on Wednesday!

I wish you all a fantastic week 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