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10/19

October Riding, Jammed Packed Events

October 2, 2019 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

Laurie Montoya, Publisher

The fall season is here and fall colors are upon us and you only have a week or so before all those beautiful fall colors will have fallen softly to the ground and in a blink of an eye winter riding will be upon us… are you ready. Halloween can be seen in every store with Thanksgiving not far behind. I then realized that we are 69 days away from the Children’s Hospital Toy Run and 86 days away from Christmas. Where did our summer go?

Motorcycle Fatalities continue to RISE – Our biker community in Colorado has suffered 9 tragic motorcycle fatalities in the last two (2) weekends of September. My calculations, as President of BikerDown, is that we have recorded a record 74 fatalities on motorcycles so far in 2019. That is a staggering number of fatalities as my numbers do not include data on the western slope.

I don’t know what to say that hasn’t already been said or covered in previous issues of Colorado Rider News, but motorcycle awareness and safety is no longer about “Look Twice Save a Life” bumper stickers or “Can you see me now As*hole” t-shirts or patches.  

Motorcycle awareness is now in the hands of the rider, and how experienced you are in defensive driving. It is about how fast you ride for the conditions; it is about being more cautious when going thru intersections and stop lights. Green no longer means GO, it means down shift and see if anyone is coming, looking both ways… before you proceed thru any light or stop sign. It means if you see someone driving distracted… you do all that you can to stay clear of that irresponsible driver – which is almost impossible because 4 out of 10 drivers are using their phones while moving.  

Motorcycle Safety – use to refer to whether you wore a helmet or not. Now, considering helmet protection and wearing the right safety gear IS A MUST to stay alive and enable you to recover from an accident. Companies like Tobacco Motorwear are coming out with stylish denim jeans with Kevlar fibers in it, so that in the event of a crash it can help limit the road rash and damages to your body. Kevlar riding shirts that you wear over your t-shirts and under your vest and will protect your shoulders, elbows and most importantly your back. Knox armor in your leather vests or jackets that will protect your spine. Some will say I am not going to spend 300 on a pair of riding jeans or I can’t afford it. We are in a riding age where you can’t afford NOT TO HAVE some safety gear when you ride. This year I would ask all motorcycle riders to put safety gear on your Christmas list.

This month has some special events and CRN is proud to feature them in this issue:

October 12th – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse 2nd Anniversary Birthday Bash – who doesn’t love a party and Mark and Rob are pulling out all the stops for their 2nd year anniversary party. You can read more about that on page 4.

October 12th – Rider Justice 2020 Sturgis Giveaway drawing event – To go with the fun festivities at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse. Rider Justice has been taking registrations since August for a 2020 STURGIS VACATION GIVEAWAY. Next year is the 80th and reservations cost top dollar and everywhere will sell out. Take the stress out of the 80th and get up to Dirty Dogs and REGISTER for a chance to win. Registrations taken until 10/12. Also register online: RiderJustice.com/sturgis

October 26th – BikerDown and Wide Open Saloon will be drawing the winner of the 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide donated by Wide Open Saloon to help injured motorcycle riders with their recovery. Wide Open Saloon will be opening in early 2020 and will be hosting their raffle drawing at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse. A special thanks to Mark & Rob and Todd Hills, owner of Wide Open Saloon for working together to make this a very special event for BikerDown. These 2 businesses truly care about motorcycle riders and their recovery!

October 26th – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse – Halloween party – We all know that Mark & Rob know how to throw a party and their Halloween parties are legendary! So, get your costume ready for a chance to win a great prize! 

We welcome your comments and thoughts on what CRN can do better in the future and enjoy the ride!

Filed Under: From the Publisher, Magazine Tagged With: 10/19

Unmarried Couples on Motorcycles: What Are Your Rights?

October 2, 2019 By Scott O'Sullivan Leave a Comment

Scott O'Sullivan - The O'Sullivan Law Firm, motorcycle accident attorneys
Scott O’Sullivan

As a Denver motorcycle attorney, I have seen some very scary, tragic outcomes after motorcycle accidents. These outcomes, which generally involve serious injuries or fatalities, leave victims and their family members completely overwhelmed by grief, pain and financial fears. 

Recently, I met with the girlfriend of a biker who was hit by a car. She was on the back of his bike and she was seriously injured, as was he. Because they weren’t married, they had a lot of confusion about what they could expect from insurance. The truth is this: insurance is ALWAYS confusing, but in the case of unmarried couples, it can get even murkier.

Therefore, I thought I’d share some typical scenarios involving couples on motorcycles, as well as some real-life stories below. Always remember: It is free to speak with a personal injury attorney about your accident to see if you can make an insurance claim.

Couples on Motorcyclists: What Are Your Rights?

There are three typical scenarios involving couples and motorcycle accidents. (Generally, the man is driving the motorcycle with his wife/girlfriend riding in back, so that is how I’ve written these scenarios. I am fully aware that there are many female bikers who are also victims of motorcycle accidents.)

  1. The accident is his fault and you’re not married: If you’re not married and you are riding on the back of your boyfriend’s bike and he causes an accident, you have a right to make a claim against him for liability. I am NOT suggesting that this motorcycle accident is the end of your relationship because you’re suing him… you’re actually making a claim against his insurance company. (Make sure he has the right insurancebefore you ever get on his bike!)  
  2. The accident is his fault and you are married: If you are married, riding on the back of your husband’s bike, and he causes a motorcycle accident, you both better have great healthcare coverage and disability insurance because you cannot sue a spouse for insurance coverage. 
  3. The accident is someone else’s fault and you’re not married: If you’re on the back of your boyfriend’s bike and someone else causes an accident that injures you, you have three “buckets” to make claims against, in this order: a) the at-fault driver, b) your boyfriend’s Uninsured Motorist coverage (UIM), and c) your own UIM.

Real Case 

Here is a perfect example of that third scenario and why you should always carry Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM):

Last year, an unmarried couple was riding on a motorcycle when they were hit by an oncoming vehicle. Both of them ended up in the hospital with injuries. Here are the ways that the couple is covered after this accident:

  • Both of the victims can make separate claims against the at-fault driver. He had policy limits of $100,000.
  • The boyfriend can also make a claim against his UIM. He had policy limits of $50,000.
  • The girlfriend can also make a claim against the boyfriend’s UIM as well as her own. She had policy limits of $250,000.

This means the boyfriend will receive $150,000 and the girlfriend will receive $400,000! This case proves the value of getting as much UIM coverage as you can afford. (I recommend a minimum of $250,000.)

Again, I am not suggesting that you and your boyfriend get into a legal fight with each other. Not at all! This is about insurance claims; not about taking money away from someone you love. The whole reason we buy insurance is to protect ourselves when something goes wrong and motorcycle accidents can cause a lot of financial hardship. You should use all of the insurance available to you. Consult with a Denver motorcycle lawyer to find out exactly where those “buckets” exist.

Unmarried Couples on Motorcycles: True Stories

A couple of summers ago, I had two cases that broke my heart. In both cases, a woman who had just met a man with a motorcycle, got on the back of his bike and they ended up in accidents caused by the biker. In both cases, the women were wearing shorts and the accidents degloved their legs and arms. (That is as gruesome as it sounds.) Because the bikers caused the accidents, the women made claims against the bikers’ insurance companies. Sadly, the women did not also have their own UIM insurance, which would have provided them with significant financial support as they healed from their injuries.

Never, ever get on the back of a motorcycle without checking the biker’s insurance and making sure you’re covered with UIM!

In another case, a friend of mine and her common-law husband got on their motorcycle to watch the 2017 eclipse in Wyoming. He ended up getting killed in an accident that wasn’t his fault; she was not on the bike at the time, thank goodness. Because we could prove that they were common-law married, she was able to use her UIM coverage to help cover costs from the accident, as well as the pain, financial loss and suffering she experienced after his death.

If you frequently ride on the back of a motorcycle, contact me for a free insurance review! I can quickly make sure that you are covered properly. Call or text me at 303-388-5304.

Filed Under: Legal, Magazine Tagged With: 10/19, Couples

Dirty Dogs Roadhouse – 2 Year Anniversary

October 2, 2019 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

So much work went into the first wave of renovations of a building that had been neglected by others for years. It would require more than repainting. Dirty Dogs had to have a certain biker flair but keep the same visual of the Susie’s we loved. The biker community didn’t disappoint and supported and packed Dirty Dogs from the moment that it opened.

When Mark and Rob ventured into the transformation of our beloved Susie’s bar, no-one could have imagined the Dirty Dogs Roadhouse that is 2 years in the making. Vintage riders longed to have a true biker bar back in Golden and a place to go where they were understood and welcomed.

Next came Mark and Rob’s vision to create an outdoor patio area that could accommodate the overwhelming number of riders that were coming in on the weekends. For months, customers would come just to watch Mark & Rob doing the improvements themselves and you could see the excitement each week as another intricate piece of wall or concrete was poured.

The 3rd wave was the outdoor stage area that would enable Mark & Rob to bring bigger entertainment and host multiple riding events simultaneously. The 4th wave was the upper parking lot to enable more riders and vehicles to safely park. And who could forget the yellow buses they bought to transport riders to/from the Freedom Fest at Jeffco fairgrounds.

Dirty Dogs will be hosting their 2nd Anniversary Birthday party on October 12th so SAVE THE DATE and Thank you Dirty Dogs for giving the biker community in Denver a place to call HOME!

Filed Under: Business, Magazine Tagged With: 10/19, Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

Motorcycles and Education: Don’t Ride One Without Taking the Other

October 2, 2019 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

By Don Enninga, ASM Lead Instructor & Instructor Trainer

October offers a special, cost-saving opportunity for ASM classes!  Rider Justice is subsidizing both of the October courses making them incredibly affordable for riders by sponsoring up to 20 riders per course making their cost only $35 each, a $50 per course savings!

From: www.roadguardians.org: Accident Scene Management is the leading Motorcycle Trauma Training Organization in the world and the only accredited non-profit Bystander Program in the USA. The key to reducing injuries and fatalities to motorcyclists is education. Road Guardians encourages all motorcyclists to become lifelong learners, and to do all they can to avoid a crash from occurring. We go one-step further than many other safety programs – we connect motorcycle trauma first response as part of the solution.

Are You Prepared?

Will you be prepared to help another rider in a time of need? After a crash occurs there is a gap in time of 5-30 minutes before an ambulance arrives. Will you know how to help? 

Don Enninga, EMT & Motorcycle Rider says, “I believe motorcycles and education do go hand in hand! Without the education, someone crashes, and then you are left to wonder: How do I manage this motorcycle crash scene? How do I make the scene safe for me and others including the victim? How do I know if he/she is breathing?  Do I have the ability to stop serious bleeding?  These questions and many more can be answered as you prepare yourself to react when the unimaginable event of a motorcycle crash occurs.  How you might ask?”

Very good question!  The Accident Scene Management (ASM) course will provide you the answers you seek.  How do you take this valuable course?  In conjunction with Rider Justice, the Advocacy Arm of The O’Sullivan Law Firm and BikerDown Colorado who provides assistance to injured riders and their families, we are providing two upcoming courses for you and your many riding buddies to take! 

October Schedule 

Clear your calendar for classes coming up at the Hampton Inn Denver West in Golden, CO in October. On Saturday, October 26, 2019, a level 100 Series Basic Instructor Led Class called “A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist” will be offered. This is our most popular class. Learn what to do in the first 5-30 minutes after a crash until professional help arrives. Fully Instructor Led (IL) by a certified ASM instructor, this 7 hour class (8 with lunch) teaches helmet removal, jaw thrust rescue breathing, moving the injured, controlling bleeding and more. All skills are all taught and practiced.

The 300 Series Instructor Led (IL) “Advanced Bystander Assistance” course will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at the same location. Learn to be a leader at a scene as well as how to assist the EMS when they arrive. Advanced Airway management, Common medical emergencies, assisting the EMS with Extrication, Femoral Traction, role play and more are taught in this 7 hour instructor led class (8 hours with a lunch break).  The pre-requisite to attend the Advanced Bystander Assistance course is completing a 100 series class or a Basic Refresher within two years.  

How much is a 7-8 hour day of quality motorcycle trauma instruction worth? Normally, these valuable courses are $85 per day to help you be more prepared in the event of an accident. A small investment when it comes to peace of mind as you prepare for the worst while hoping for the best when out riding.  

Save Money in October

October offers a special, cost-saving opportunity for ASM classes!  Rider Justice is subsidizing both of the October courses making them incredibly affordable for riders by sponsoring up to 20 riders per course making their cost only $35 each, a $50 per course savings! Additionally, Rider Justice is making a $10 per registrant donation to BikerDown. If you are a road captain or otherwise frequently ride with others, we encourage you to take full advantage of the Rider Justice sponsorship by taking both the Saturday and Sunday courses.

Great minds think alike!  Get all the great minds you know together and come take one or both of these courses. As your Lead instructor, I look forward to working with you to be prepared.

Please contact me at denninga@kci.net or 970-768-5599 or REGISTER NOW at: www.RiderJustice.com/events to make sure you have a spot reserved.  Registration is on a first come/first served basis.

Filed Under: ASM, Magazine, Safety Tagged With: 10/19, ASM, First Aid, Rider Justice, Road Guardians

Wide Open Saloon Bike Raffle – Drawing Date October 26th

October 2, 2019 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

For several months Colorado Rider News has been advertising the Wide Open Saloon Bike Raffle of a 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide with the drawing date of October 26th.  The proceeds of this bike raffle will go to BikerDown Foundation here in Colorado to help injured motorcycle riders.  

With the drawing date nearing and Wide Open experiencing some renovation delays on their property in Sedalia, Todd contacted Mark & Rob from Dirty Dogs Roadhouse and asked them if they would host the raffle drawing for Wide Open.  Dirty Dogs has supported BikerDown for many years and felt that if we can’t host the event ourselves, Dirty Dogs was the next best alternative.

The raffle drawing will be at 7pm and tickets can still be purchased online here.  

You do not need to present to win, which is a great benefit to anyone purchasing a raffle ticket.  BikerDown will do a Facebook LIVE video of the drawing so that all ticket holders can watch the drawing live and see if they won!

100% of the proceeds of this raffle go to help injured motorcycle riders in Colorado.

Filed Under: BikerDown, Magazine, Raffle Tagged With: 10/19, Wide Open Saloon

Ride Free or Die Movie Review

October 2, 2019 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

Ride Free or Die movie is an insider’s look into the political world of motorcycle clubs. The clubs are fighting for their constitutional rights against what they perceive as law enforcement profiling and harassment. The documentary features Mongols MC, Outsiders MC, Devils Disciples MC, Sin City Deciples, and clubs from all over America.  Our local leaders in the Colorado Confederation of Clubs were also featured in this movie.

Motorcycle clubs are regularly portrayed as gangs on shows such as Sons of Anarchy, Mayans MC and The Devils Ride.  The theme of these TV shows is violence, drug running, as well as demeaning women as pass arounds with no value in the club.  While this is entertaining on TV shows, the truth is that most motorcycle club members are family orientated and believe in a biker code of loyalty, honor and respect.

It is important to understand the legal definition of motorcycle profiling because it happens every day to riders across the nation. There are an estimated 10 million registered motorcyclists in America representing all walks of life. They include doctors, lawyers, business owners, military veterans, blue collar workers, and even state legislators. 

Unfortunately, the overly broad outlaw biker stereotype embraced by many in law enforcement results in selective enforcement and discriminatory traffic stops targeting a sizable portion of the motorcycling community.  To understand your rights as a rider, you should know the definition of motorcycle profiling as it relates to the law. 

The definition of motorcycle profiling  is as follow: the arbitrary use of the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle related paraphernalia as a factor in deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest or search a person or vehicle.

Solely relying on appearance as opposed to the legal requirement of conduct amounts to discrimination and violates federal law. You should immediately consult a motorcycle attorney and explore your options. Depending on the circumstances of the stop there are numerous potential claims that may be brought under Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act.

Profiling violates the 1st Amendment. Being in a motorcycle club or organization, and displaying symbols of association, are both irrefutably protected by the 1st Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971) that individuals have the constitutional right under the 1st Amendment to wear clothing which displays writing or designs and has long recognized and protected the right of an individual to freedom of association. More recent cases confirm that 1st Amendment protection specifically applies to motorcycle club and organization colors and clothing.

Profiling violates the 14th Amendment. In Whren v. US (Supreme Court, # 95-5841, 1996) the Court made a clear distinction between discriminatory stops and mere investigatory stops. The court said, “The Constitution prohibits selective enforcement of the law.”  Although the 4th Amendment is not the proper basis for a complaint, discriminatory or selective enforcement stops are a violation of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment.

Profiling violates the 4th Amendment. When the duration of the stop extends beyond the reasonable amount of time to adjudicate the traffic infraction then the stop is may be found unreasonable under the 4th Amendment. There is no set time for a reasonable stop because the circumstances of each stop are unique.

This movie will show dash cam and body cam videos of law enforcement violating the 14th and 4th amendments with no probable cause other than the vests and club colors they are wearing.

Ride Free or Die is available to download on Amazon Prime Video and we hope that readers will take time to watch this movie and will walk away better informed.

Filed Under: Magazine, Reviews Tagged With: 10/19, Movie, Ride Free or Die

Utah Vision Rally 2019

October 2, 2019 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

By Stormy

Support, what does that mean to you? Paying for someone’s coffee at Starbucks, opening the door for someone, taking chicken noodle soup to your friend when they are sick, being a shoulder to cry on? Or maybe traveling 1,500 miles on your motorcycle to support a cause, a cause that is very stigmatized, a cause that affects people every 15 minutes, a cause that your friend had a dream a vision a year prior? 

Suicide is a cause that is not talked about enough. Ride for Hope is making sure you hear their voice, we traveled to Utah to support another ride, Utah Vision Day, a ride to support suicide prevention and awareness, we supported a family who’s heart is breaking, but yet they have turned the tragedy of their son Taylor who died by suicide January 6, 2017, into a legacy to help others. The ride there was emotional, the sound of the pipes, the feel of the bike, and the wind touching my face. At times, the thoughts came through my mind, “Is this really my life? Am I really riding a motorcycle? Am I really riding hundreds of miles to support another mother, the same way I needed support? 

Our children brought us together, not because they knew each other, but because of the way they died. It’s through tragedy that so many things get started, a non-profit, a new legislative bill, just like MADD the Irving, Texas–based organization was founded on September 5, 1980, in California by Candace Lightner after her 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunk driver. MADD has claimed that drunk driving has been reduced by half since its founding.

Motorcycles and charities go hand-in-hand. It seems every weekend during the summer months, there are rides for relief foundations or to raise money for those in need. It seems the only thing better than going for a ride, is doing it for a cause.

Filed Under: Events, Magazine, Ride Tagged With: 10/19, rally, Stormy, Utah

Fall is in the Air

October 2, 2019 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

By Stormy

The Colorado’s peaks are getting dusted by snow, and the cool mornings and evenings mean it’s time for fall colors in Colorado.  It also means that the roads will be lined with cars and people gazing at the aspen trees that turn bright yellow and orange.

You will sometimes hear people refer to the trees as “quaking aspens” because the leaves rustle and shimmer in the wind.

September and October are the best time for aspens, so head out and see this spectacular scene.  Below I have some great routes to take to see the colors, so don’t miss your chance to see slopes painted in gold.

Ride the Cache la Poudre River Canyon

This canyon is about 20 minutes northwest of Fort Collins, is a great place to enjoy the fall colors in Colorado.  My favorite way to Poudre Canyon (pronounced pooh-der) is from Highway 34, west of 287 and head north on County Road 27 to Buckhorn Road to Stove Prairie Road to Colorado Highway 14 and then turn right to U.S. Route 287.  Within the first quarter mile, you’ll begin to see the Poudre River, Colorado’s only nationally designated Wild & Scenic river.  The highway also is designated as a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway.  You will see many colorful aspens on Highway 14 as well as beautiful ponderosa and lodgepole pine trees, sagebrush, and mountain mahogany.

If you turn left on Highway 14 from Stove Prairie Road, you will ride the two-hour drive, climbing above 10,000 feet, to Cameron Pass and enjoy the colors along the river.  Take it about 40 minutes farther for even more colors and arrive in Walden, Colorado.

Ride Rabbit Ears Pass

You’ll see colorful aspens along Rabbit Ears, especially near Dumont Lake, 22 miles southeast of Steamboat Springs along U.S. Highway 40.  

Ride the Peak to Peak Highway

If you are in the Denver area and don’t want to ride too far, take Colorado Highway 6 to 119 to 72 to 7 to either Estes or down to Lyons.  Both ways showcase beautiful aspen trees.  

Ride Guanella Pass

I recommend taking U.S. Route 285 south to Grant and turn right on County Road 62 all the way to the Victorian town of Georgetown.   There are some cool hairpin turns that takes you down to Georgetown to Interstate 70.  

Ride Gold Belt Tour

If you are a history buff, then this ride is for you.  You will get a double dose of gold: beautiful aspens and a glimpse of historic mining towns that sprang up during Colorado gold rush days back in the 1890s. 

This 131-mile, 5-hour drive is another one of Colorado’s Historic and Scenic Byways.  You start in Florissant and head south on Highway 1 into the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. From there, you’ll head to the old mining towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. Look for beautiful views of aspens on the flanks of Pikes Peak near Victor.  

Drive: Cripple Creek

For a shorter drive, head west on U.S. Highway 24 from Colorado Springs, then take Colorado Highway 67 through Divide to Cripple Creek. You’ll find spectacular views at the Pikes Peak Heritage Center in Cripple Creek.

Seeing the fall colors is one of the reasons why I love living and riding in Colorado.  There is no place better than here.

Filed Under: Magazine, Ride Tagged With: 10/19, Stormy

Make BikerDown’s Roadside Membership Part of Your Road Trip Checklist

October 2, 2019 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

As riders begin to get ready for their fall road trips, please take a moment to think about do you have the right coverages on your bike in the event of a breakdown or accident?

There is nothing more frustrating than the anticipation of the ride of a lifetime, only to have that trip shattered with un-expected expenses such as an expensive motorcycle tow.  

How many of you have had to have your bike towed and cringed when your insurances’ roadside assistance brought the wrong type of tow truck.  Being out-of-state, riders deserve to know that when they need a tow, the right type of tow truck will come out and pick them up.

BikerDown’s roadside membership for $35.00 per year includes motorcycle towing in our membership that is now NATIONWIDE.  BikerDown has contracted with MTS, LLC to provide its BikerDown members a true Motorcycle Towing service.  

We ask all riders to sign-up today before you head out on your next trip join BikerDown for $35.00 per year.  This membership level will ensure that if you need towing, you are covered.

Click here to learn more.

Filed Under: BikerDown, Magazine Tagged With: 10/19, BikerDown, Roadside Assistance

Canada’s Most Rider Friendly Community from 2018

October 2, 2019 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

By Belt Drive Betty

For the last four years we at Belt Drive Betty Media have been holding contests to find the Most Rider Friendly Communities in Canada.

Working alongside our presenting sponsor Community Futures, we have been working to connect rural Canada to the services that Community Futures can bring to bare in economic development.

Riders love having rural places to visit, away from the hubbub of the big cities and the heavily congested highways. Away from so many of the potential dangers, construction zones and, texting drivers to name a few.

Rural Canada will not survive without tourism. Farming alone isn’t enough with the family farm becoming the monster corporate farm. 

Riders and rural Canada need each other

So, what is it exactly, that makes a community Rider Friendly? Well it takes a few things. 

Number one, you want the ride to get to your community to be one that people can enjoy.

Number two, when they get there, you want them to have something to do.

Number three, while they are there, you want to make them feel so welcome, that they feel compelled to come back.

Hafford Saskatchewan is the reigning champion from the 2018 riding season. 

This small Saskatchewan town of 400 won the Rider Friendly Community Contest for the 2018 riding season.

Like many rural communities Hafford is fighting for survival but unlike some of the rural communities out there, Hafford has a couple of aces up its sleeve. For one, it has a unique flavor in that it celebrates its Ukrainian heritage in a way few towns celebrate their heritage.

The street signs are in English & Ukrainian

There are three churches in this small town, St. Solange Roman Catholic Parish, the Speers Pioneer Memorial United Church but the most celebrated is the Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, Hafford, Saskatchewan pictured to the right. You see, at one time, Hafford was the largest Ukrainian settlement in Saskatchewan.

Hafford is ideally situated between North Battleford and Prince Alberta and only an hour away from Saskatoon.  

In between, and all around Hafford, there are many things to do. There is Redberry Lake, and the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve, the Crooked Bush, The Popoff Tree, the Doukhobor Dugout House National Historic Site, The Sesula Mineral & Gem Museum in Radisson.

All of these very interesting things are literally in Hafford’s backyard.

In their front yard are bilingual signs, the interesting churches, the Hafford Co-op, Supreme Motorcycle & Auto Repair and the AM Bistro and Bakery. What most rural communities forget is that they have two commodities that can sometimes be hard to come by in other areas. REALLY, really good home cooked food and customer service that is friendly, genuine and heartfelt. The AM Bistro & Bakery is run by a local family, the food is amazing, and you cannot complain about the service. It’s attentive even when they are swamped busy!

In small towns, the pace is a little slower, so the big picture is easier to see.  For me the first draw was immediately evident with that first sip of corn chowder soup. Customer service and good food are two big draws to get riders to come out and guess what all those riders also drive vehicles.

The very fact that there are so many other attractions in the area, is a huge bonus!

Then I met Heather and Larry Dale from Supreme Motorcycle & Auto Repair and I saw the next draw.  Two big hearted people who want to make a difference for their communities – where they live in Hafford and for the riding community.

And then there are their secret weapons. Elk Burgers and INCREDIBLE music.

The Brothers G. A local band made up of 2 – 18-year old and one 22-year-old, whose voices belay ancient, old souls.

The Ride for Dad and other big events have used Hafford as a stop point, but Hafford also now has its own show ‘n’ shine that was a huge hit. Everyone that attended had a blast.  

Rural does not mean boring any more than Saskatchewan equals flat land.  You need to get off the beaten path of the Trans-Canada Highway to discover the real beauty of the rolling hills, rivers, valleys and coulees that are Saskatchewan. 

Hafford Saskatchewan IS Canada’s MOST Rider friendly Community and deservedly so.

Filed Under: Magazine Tagged With: 10/19, Belt Drive Betty, Ride Canada

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BikerDown Foundation is in our 9th year of Adopting Families for the Holidays … [Read More...] about Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays – Nominations are open until November 30th

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