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Belt Drive Betty

The Riding season that wasn’t!

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By Belt Drive Betty

Thanks to COVID-19, everyone’s world has been turned upside down, including ours!

Hundreds of events cancelled, hundred more rescheduled and everyone struggling to get some fundraising done.

As we get closer to the middle of June, we in Canada are looking forward to crowning a new Rider Friendly Community.   The idea behind the contest is to find those communities that love having riders visit.

What community has the best wings, 

  • the best burger, 
  • the best pie and coffee or the best donuts.
  • Which volunteer made being at an event worthwhile?

It’s all about celebrating the smaller communities. No community over 100,000 can enter.

Over the last five years of the contest we have learned about some of the most incredible out of the way Large Roadside Attractions Like the miniature Eiffel Tower in Montmartre Saskatchewan or the Moose in Manning Alberta.

We learned about the Run to the Hills Memorial Rally in a small community called Two Hills Alberta, and an amazing toy run on Vancouver Island BC called the Port Alberni Toy Run. We learned about the incredible riding community in Lloydminster Alberta and the quaint community of Hafford Saskatchewan.

Every community that has won our trophy has been unique and interesting and truly the diversity of scenery and people is what makes being a motorcyclist one of the most rewarding things a person can be.

To see the communities that are entered in the contest and learn a little about them and Canada visit riderfriendlycontest.ca

Our world has changed drastically in three weeks

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Renee “Belt Drive Betty” Charbonneau

Hugs and holding hands, handshakes and sharing a meal all seem like distant memories.

I watch the Colorado riding community spurred on by Laurie and Chomper Montoya and I wonder what this community would do without such dedicated, hard working volunteers. Laurie is just everywhere responding to the needs of her community.

Every community has their champions, the people that always seem to be there when someone needs them, Laurie is one of them.

The latest thing that I watched take place was with the guys from Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, BikerDown, Rider Justice and the riding community of Denver was the feeding of 30+ frontline responders and others in need – on short notice!

I am humbled to be a part of a community that does such compassionate work.

So how do you stay human and connected while social distancing or self isolating?

Since there has been zero business, none, not even a little bit, I have been grant writing for Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre and trying to do good for others.

My biggest pleasure during this whole pandemic thing so far was last week when I had a local delivery company take some very special donuts to our hospital, RCMP station and all 3 Fire halls the other day.  Donuts made by the ladies of the community called Crooked Creek are known famously as Crooked Creek Crack – think Krispy Cream but better.

Knowing the smiles that were had by our frontline responders made me feel good.  The next biggest pleasure was giving my postal delivery gal a baggie of individually wrapped mints with a note that said thanks. Her smile made my heart happy.

I am trying to stay connected to humanity, but the way some people behave and talk to each other makes it challenging.  Finding other things to focus on and be grateful for is something I find myself seeking out regularly. It takes some of the sting out of the behaviours of some.

I’d love to know what you are doing to try to retain your humanity and your sanity! I am holding on for true social distancing season to start.

A little wind therapy right about now would go a long way to making me feel whole again.

But, just like this Virus has changed plans for everyone around the world, Mother Nature and Father Winter are making things mentally a little rougher for us Northwestern Alberta.  

Hoping where you are, you are safe and warm!

Please reach out to me on Facebook @ BeltDriveBetty I’d love to hear what you are doing to cope and stay human.

Canada Tourism

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By: Renee “Belt Drive Betty” Charbonneau

Spring, you can feel it, it is trying so hard to break free from the white cold fingers of winter.

Here in Northern Alberta, it’s been a long, cold, uncomfortable winter. There have been a couple of bright spots though. In January I took in the Edmonton Motorcycle Show as an exhibitor with a booth representing the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association, Grande Prairie Regional Tourism and the presenting sponsor for the CMTA – White Knights Injury Law Team of Braithwaite and Boyle Accident Injury Law. And in February I took in the World of Wheels, again as an exhibitor, promoting our Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association, our presenting sponsor and Grande Prairie Regional Tourism.

Why is an injury lawyer sponsoring a motorcycle tourism association? Well Ken Braithwaite is an avid motorcyclist himself and he was involved in an out of country motorcycle crash. And so he gets it. He understands the need to ride and the fears, the challenges and frustrations felt by a rider who is injured. If you were injured here in Canada you want to know that there is someone who can help you, guide you and put you on the right path, who can partner with your attorney in the US if needed. Ken Braithwaite and the White Knights Injury Law Team are here to serve you in your time of need. They do nothing but Injury Law and can serve you in Alberta, British COlumbia, the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

If you intend to ride to Alaska like most red blooded Americans who ride do, it’s good to know who to reach out to. And hopefully, like packing rain gear, now that you know there is good a rider attorney who can help you if you are injured, you won’t need him and his team.

The CMTA has begun creating partnerships with all sorts of Canadian Influencers in the Motorcycle Travel and Tourism Industry and we have tour providers on both coasts and a few in between that we are now connected to. Tammy Kidd of Canadian Xtreme Adventures can help transform your trip to Alaska (a trip of a lifetime) into your trip through Western Canada to Alaska, (an EPIC trip of a lifetime!)

If you are planning a trip through Canada on your way to Alaska let us help you find the best resources to take advantage of! We have folks in the Kawarthas of Ontario, who can help you eat your way through the countryside, and on the East Coast, the Cabot Trail Biker can help you see Cape Breton in ways you never thought possible!

The Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association, Powered by White Knights Injury Law Team, here to help inspire you to take more road trips!

Lacombe Alberta

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By: Belt Drive Betty

This central Alberta community has lots to offer! 

Lacombe is located in the QEll Highway corridor, with access to hundreds of kilometers of additional secondary routes making the city of Lacombe a natural stop when touring through Central Alberta.  Situated in the beautiful parkland district between Edmonton and Calgary Lacombe is the perfect weekend or day trip destination!

[Read more…] about Lacombe Alberta

Make Alberta a part of your 2020 Travel Plans!

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By Belt Drive Betty

Here in the great white north, the snow is beginning to fly, and we are getting ready for what could be a rough winter.  Our election has resulted in a Liberal minority Government, which for Western Canada where I live, is devastating.

[Read more…] about Make Alberta a part of your 2020 Travel Plans!

Canada’s Most Rider Friendly Community from 2018

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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.

RiderFriendly.com: By Riders for Riders

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By: Belt Drive Betty

This has been the riding season from HE** (Double Hockey Sticks) where I live in Canada.  Rainy, cold, miserable and a season filled with motorcycle accidents/crashes that have killed and injured large numbers of riders this year.  

The trend of higher than normal crashes and riders being killed is happening right across North America and figuring out why this is happening must become a priority.

There are tools a rider can have in their arsenal that will help them.

#1 – Training

Upgrading and practicing your defensive riding skills  including emergency stopping and maneuvering gives you peace of mind knowing your skills are honed and ready when you need them.  Many accidents while the cagers fault might be avoided if you continue to practice and rev up your reaction skills. 

#2 – Never Ride Alone Program 

It is available for members of riderfriendly.com for free, the Never Ride Alone Program is like having your guardian angel riding with you. The real people on the other end of the phone track your progress as you check in along your ride and should something happen that you forget to call them – they try you twice. If they still can’t reach you, they dispatch 911 to go find you from your last check-in. It’s based on the Never Work Alone programs and gives you and your loved ones some peace of mind when you are riding solo. Good in the Continental US and Canada – the toll free number can connect you to the community at riderfriendly.com too – it’s a direct – toll free line to our answering service who can reach myself or my webmistress and then we can reach into the community if you can’t! 

#3 – Networking 

Use the community to find riders to help you along with the directory at Riderfriendly.com for savings on hotels, motels and learn about businesses other riders are recommending. Knowing you can get help if you need it from fellow riders, and that you have another avenue to find businesses that want to work with riders, give one a little peace of mind. Again, your membership card with the toll-free number is in your profile page when you register for free.

#4- SkyMed Insurance

The cost of an air ambulance in the event of a motorcycle crash can be a rather jarring $10 – $60K depending on where the crash took place and the distance the air ambulance must travel.  Then there are a whole host of other considerations, like, your spouse/significant other, your motorcycle, your doctors/hospital bills and if you don’t have travel insurance that can run into the hundreds of thousands very quickly depending on your situation.

SkyMed Insurance offers several ways to help you minimize the financial trauma and it’s a product that Biker Down is now working with and the CMTA here in Canada is offering memberships to Canadian Riders who would be financially crippled if they were ever in a crash in the US.  Here is the link to the US site – https://skymed.com/ – ask Laurie Montoya, your editor to connect you to the person she deals with so that she can get you the Biker Down Rate.

#5 – BikerDown Foundation Membership

(www.bikerdown.org/join-us/) Because of the perks of roadside assistance and the assistance you get in the event of a crash, because you just never know when it could happen to you.

These are five things that I believe can help a rider enjoy their season a little more, upgrading your skills, using a free tracking device like the Never Ride Alone Program, the Rider Friendly Directory of Businesses, SkyMed Insurance and Membership in BikerDown. They all give you peace of mind and that helps make the season a little bit sweeter.

I am off on what will likely be my fourth and last ride of any import for the season.

I am off to film in Hafford Saskatchewan, the 2018 riding season’s winner of Canada’s MOST Rider Friendly Community Contest.

It will mean I get a paltry 10,000K/6,000 miles in on the season, but hey, it’s better than no mileage – right?

Next time, I’ll fill you in on my visit to Saskatchewan and show you why this little community has won our Contest!

RiderFriendly.com is by Riders for Riders

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By: Belt Drive Betty 

Many years ago, I was turned away from a motel near Rocky Mountain House Alberta, because I was on a motorcycle.

Then and there I determined I never wanted another rider to ever feel the way I had that day, especially a visitor to my country, or any country for that matter. The Rider Friendly Business Association® and it’s digital directory is the result of that day. Meant to help you find a great rider owned/friendly businesses or specific business like motorcycle repair shops to serve your needs when at home or on the road. 

If we riders support each other, we all benefit!

So, here’s a quick run down on the program for the rider. 

Social – RiderFriendly.com gives the rider access to an easy-to-use, full-feature social media component that lets you connect with other riders. Get creative with your profile page, create events, groups etc… You control your own privacy settings. Chat support available. Let your non-motorcycle friends talk about pot roast on Facebook while you join your riding buddies on a social network MADE FOR YOU! We also have a Facebook Group if you really insist on staying there… It’s the Rider Friendly Support Network Group.

Ride Safe – All Members of RiderFriendly.com receive the services of the Never Ride Alone Program provided by Intercon Messaging. Members can call the toll-free number and provide the operator with the membership # on the bottom of your digital card (always available on your profile page).

Find Products and Services – Develop a meaningful relationship 🙂 with the Rider Friendly Business owners. The Rider Friendly Business Association® business members recognize the value the motorcycle community brings and wants to make sure the unique needs of the motorcycle rider are met. RiderFriendly.com does our part by educating the business owners with at our own Rider Friendly University.

Save Money with our RoadTrip Rewards™ program – Special Events, Specials and Offers/Coupons AUTOMATICALLY display right in your profile page making it handy to check while you chat with your motorcycle buds. Get member savings and discounts offered by our RFBA Members by showing your RoadTrip Rewards™ card on your phone or providing your membership # which is located on the bottom of your digital membership card. Your card automatically displays on your profile page when you are logged into the website. Easy Peasy. EXAMPLE: Right now Choice Hotels is offering up to 20% off on rooms, worldwide, when you book on their website using our code!

What’s Happening – The latest Busted Knuckle News, Upcoming Canadian Motorcycle Events, News Feeds from the interwebs, all display on your profile pages (as well as any meet up for a ride events created by your friends). If you are planning on coming up to Canada, we got you covered for the news and event information you need to know!

REFER A Business! One of the best things you can do is refer your favorite businesses. If you can’t find them in our directory, add them and we’ll reach out to them and if they become a member, we’ll share the love!!!!

Rate & Review a Business: Help your fellow rider, rate and review the businesses you use! Let’s help each other build the best directory and the best social community for riders on the planet!

“Ah… ok so how much is this going to cost me?”  IT’S FREE! Plus, if you refer a business you could make some dough!

On your next motorcycle trip, be sure to “pack” RiderFriendly.com

“The Smarter Way to Ride”

Next time I’ll tell you all about becoming a Rider Friendly Business Association member!

Ride Canada: Interview

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By: Belt Drive Betty

As the editor of a newspaper that sponsors a lot of events, there are always stories to print and that’s wonderful, but few stories have touched my heart quite the way the Women Riders World Relay has.

Women from around the globe are joining hands to help empower other women and educate the manufacturer as to the size of the female audience and what their needs in gear and motorcycles truly is.

So as their sponsor I decided to do a little Q & A with a few of these ladies…


Name: Roberta Orbach

What Leg or Ripple Relay were you part of? A. Albuquerque-Los Alamos-Santa Fe New Mexico

What dates did you participate in the WRWR? A. April 16

What do you ride?A. 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650

What is one thing you want other women to know about the Relay. A. It is exhilarating, freeing, and an awareness that you are not alone pervades you body.

What was the single most important thing you took away from participating in the Relay? A. New friendships!

What advice would you give riders wanting to participate in the WRWR or a Ripple Ride? A. Do it with abandon.

What Leg or Ripple Relay were you part of? A. Kelowna to Nakusp

What dates did you participate? A. June 1st

What do you ride?  A. 2018 Kawasaki VulcanS 650

What is one thing you want other women to know about the Relay. A. It’s fun. Eye opening to the amount of women riders. There are people from all walks of life and backgrounds.

What was the single most important thing you took away from participating in the Relay? A. That I can do it. I have had my license for 11 years-ish. The most I’ve ridden in a day was about 200km. (Mostly because I didn’t trust the bikes I had to go much further.) I ride pretty much every day but on June 1st I road over 550km.

What advice would you give riders wanting to participate in the WRWR or a Ripple Ride? A. Just get out and DO IT! See what happens.

It’s wonderful to see so many ladies riding these days, I am grateful to play a role in this movement!