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September Sept. 1st & 2nd - The Annual Snake River Motorcycle Rodeo
468A Faught Road in Cobden, Gates open at 5pm Friday, $25 per person, Bike Games on and off All Day, Live Music , Rough Camping (Tents and Trailers welcome), Food vendors on site and of course The Pig Roast. For more Info: 613-808-1388 or Facebook SnakeRiverRodeo
Sept. 2nd & 3rd – Goderich’s West Coast Blues Festival
Blues All Weekend Long in Downtown Goderich. Friday do the Downtown Shuffle Walkabout Blues Wristband just $10, Saturday’s Show and Shine from 2 – 4pm in the Middle of the Square. Check them out at www.westcoastblues.ca .
Sept. 8th - Classy Chassis & Cycles Bike & Band Night
At 1399 8th Line Lakefield, 5:30 pm till Dusk at Classy Chassis & Cycles. Come on out and enjoy some L i v e Music under the stars Featuring Vandura. 1399 8th Line Lakefield On. 705-292-8300 or www.usedhd.ca
Sept 9th – 4th Annual Malicious Cycle & The Rangers M.C. Fall Poker Run
Starting at The Rangers Toronto CH Registration starts at 11am, Kick-Stands Up at Noon. A donation of $20 per Rider & $10 per Passenger. The Ride will finish up at
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Malicious Cycle 3595 St. Clair Ave., East in Scarborough. . All proceeds from the ride will go to The McMann Family Trust Fund. For more information call Bryan at 416-6665827
Sept. 9th – Old Farts Harley Riders 1st Annual Food Ride
Old Fart Harley Riders are holding their First Annual Food Ride this Saturday in support of Clearview Stayner Food Bank. Registration is at A&D Bird Seed & Farm Market, 1617 County Road 42 (Airport Road), Stayner, Ontario from 10am-11:30am. Kickstands up at 12:00 Noon. A donation of non-perishable food items equalling $20.00 and/or $20.00 per rider, will include food and beverage. For details contact John @ 705-7966027. After party at the John Deer building across from A&D with loads of prizes.
Sept. 15Th & 16th – 15th Annual Biketoberfest
Be sure to join us in Welland this weekend for the ever famous Biketoberfest! This even is being held by the Welland County M/C at 603 Netherby Road in Welland. The event starts at Friday at 9am with free admission and parking. Bike show entry is $10 per bike, and you won’t want to miss out on all the bands, vendors, and games. And as always a chance to Win a New H-D Bike. Tickets for the Bike are $20 and only 6000 have been printed. Contact Bruce Bissell at 905-714-6885 or check out www.biketoberfest.ca
Sept. 16th - Classy Chassis & Cycles Annual Swap Meet
1399 8th Line Smith, Lakefield, 9am2pm Vendor Tables Available, Call to Reserve Your Space! 1-888-2928305 and talk to Josh. Used Parts, Accessories, Clothing, Everything Bike Related For All Makes & Models! Jonny’s BBQ Lunch. For more info visit www.usedhd.ca or call 1-888-292-8305
Sept 16th – Bacchus MC Hamilton’s ‘Poker Run’
Starting at 30 Arden Ave., Hamilton. Registration from 9:30am till 11am. For more information go to www.BacchusMCOntario.com
Sept. 16th – B.R.O. Niagara’s Fall Poker Run/Food Drive
At the Husky Truck Stop, Niagara on the Lake. Registration from 10am – 12 noon, Non-Perishable food item or a cash donation. BBQ and entertainment to follow at the Bash Site( 330 Young Road, Welland) For Info Call Ron: 905-964-7293 or Bonnie: 289-696-5239
Sept 16th – Victory for Animals Charity BBQ
At Docville Western Town, 816 North St., in Newcastle. Live Bands, BBQ, Games, 50/50 and much more. Gates open at 3pm and runs till Midnight, Advance tickets $20 at the Gate $25. For more info and tickets call Donna 647-886-4744. www.victoryforanimals.com
Sept. 23rd – Scotty’s Cycle Shoppe 1st Year Anniversary BBQ
Take a ride to Strathroy to Scotty’s Shoppe, 133 Head Street South, and enjoy a Free BBQ Starting at 1pm, with Music, Door Prizes Games and more to help celebrate our 1st Year Here! For more info call 519-245-4205.
Sept. 23rd - Iron Cowgirlz 4th Annual Memorial Ride for Ms. Dazzle
Meeting at Thurst-t’s Cycle 298 Pretty River Parkway, in Collingwood. Registration 9:30am till 11am, $20 per rider Donation, The rain date is Sept 24th. ALL RIDERS ARE WELCOME. For more information and sponsor sheets contact Marcy at 705-466-1131 or email ms.dazzleride@gmail.com or check them out on facebook at www.facebook.com/ms.dazzleride
Sept. 23rd – BondSlave M.C. Unity Ride
Starting at 5492 South River Dr., Manotick Ontario (Near Tim Hortons). Come join us for a Free Ride with Free Food. For more info check out www.bondslavemc.ca
Sept. 24th - Black Hawks MC 13th Annual Show ‘N’ Shine
At Bobbies Bar & Grill 2965 Homestead Rd. Mount Hope, 1pm till 4pm. Come on out and join the party you’ll have a good time. More info at www.blackhawksmc.ca
October Oct 13th – Friday The Thirteenth 2017! Clare’s Thunder Run To Dover
Join Clare’s as we make our Annual Run To Port Dover, The Ride Leaves Clare’s Cycle, 799 HWY 20 W Fenwick by 10am Sharp! Ending with a Pin Stop at Clare’s Port Dover, 334 Main Street, Port Dover. Everyone is welcome….”Lets Bring The Thunder To Dover!”
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Peterborough, Still only $10 Admission, over 100 Vendors, Park and Sell your Bike or become a Vendor and get your Garage cleaned out. For more Information call 705-3402130 or email ptboswapmeet@hotmail.com or check out their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/ptboswapmeet
Nov. 18th- A Very Classy Christmas
Be sure to join the Classy Chassis gang Nov 18th for their annual Christmas party. M o r e details to follow, or check them out at www.usedhd.com
Nov. 24th – P.D. Restoration’s Annual Holiday Open House Oct. 21st - Toronto Motorcycle Swap Meet
Be sure to join us Saturday at The Royal Canadian Legion, located at 3850 Lakeshore Blvd W, West end of Toronto! Great times to be had, don’t miss out. For more info or Vendor spaces Call 705-321-0334 or check out www.motorcycleswapmeet.ca
Oct 29th - London Motorcycle Swap Meet
Off to London we go for the next swap meet at IBEW, 6688 Tempo Road. You won’t want to miss out on all the great people, and bikes. Look forward to seeing you there! For more info or Vendor spaces Call 705-321-0334 or check out www.motorcycleswapmeet.ca
Oct. 30 –Clare’s Harley-Davidson® 2018 Demo Days th
Test Ride a New 2018 Harley Davidson® from 10 AM till 4 PM at Clare’s 590 York Rd. Niagara on the Lake, You must have a Valid Motorcycle License, Approved Helmet & Proper Riding Gear. For more info check out www.claresharleydavidson.com
November Nov. 5th – Big Al’s 5th Annual Swap Meet Chatham
Sponsored by Bacchus MC, At Kent Belgium Dutch Canadian Club, 34 Byng Ave in Chatham. $5 Admission, Kids under 12 Free. 10am till 3pm. For more info or Table space call 306-202-7522 www.BacchusMCOntario.com
Nov. 5th – 5th Annual Motorcycle Swap Meet Peterborough
4192 Perkins Rd. London, 4pm – 11pm Come on out and enjoy a night on us, Door prizes all night, Free Food and Drinks The Whole Store is on Sale. Please bring along a non perishable food item for the London Food Bank. For more details check out www.pdrestoration.ca or 519-652-6200
Nov. 30th – Hogtown Cycles Ladies Night
On Main St. in Lucan, 6-8pm Watch out... there’s a Ladies Night about...just for the girls...An evening of Shopping, Pampering, Laughs and Fun. Free Gift Wrapping. For more info www.hogtowncycles.ca
December Dec. 8th - Hogtown Cycles Men’s Night
At 164 Main St. in Lucan, 6-8pm There Ain’t No Night Like a Men’s Night... Refreshments, Snacks and Lots of InStore Specials…Free Gift Wrapping. For more info www. hogtowncycles.ca
Dec 16th - Hogtown Cycles Annual Christmas Open House
At 164 Main St. in Lucan, 10am-3pm,Live Music, Snacks, Refreshments & Door Prizes & In-store Specials. Bring your kids, bring you pets, bring your family....Santa is in the “Hogtown House” – Free Pictures with Santa 12-2pm. Don’t forget a non-perishable food item or unwrapped toy for the Middlesex Food Bank. For more info www.hogtowncycles.ca
January Jan. 5th 6th & 7th – 42nd Annual At The Morrow Building, 151 Lansdowne St. West, North American International Supershow in Peterborough. 9am to 3 pm. A Fall tradition in The Big One at The International Centre on Airport Road in Toronto. Friday Noon till 10pm, Saturday 10am till 9pm and Sunday 10am till 5pm. Canada’s Largest Motorcycle Show, Free Parking. For more information check out www.motorcyclesupershow.ca or call 1-888-661-SHOW (7469) Jan 29th – Bacchus MC Beachville Swap Meet
At the Colombo Club of Oxford, 434719 West Hill Line in Beachville. 10AM – 3PM, Tons of vendors, Admission is only a $5 Donation with kids 12 and under free! For more Information call Hutch 226339-5184
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I cringe as I peck out the words Sept. /Oct. on my grungy keyboard. It is like hearing the words the CNE opens today as it is a sure sign in these parts of the Country that summer is almost over! Well the wet weather that has plagued the 2017 Riding Season continues and more and more events have had to deal with smaller attendance and dwindling support. It is frustrating but it is what we have been given so I guess we just carry on and hope for better days to come! There is still a good deal of Riding and excellent events yet to come if you dare to stop letting the weather forecasts dictate when and where you go. Just a glance at the What’s Shakin’ Pages will show you that there is enough going on to keep myself all of our merry band of contributors busy right up until that white stuff starts to fall and beyond because running The Riders Mag knows no real season! For myself and many of our crew, we have our Show and Shine happening again on Aug. 27 at Black Gold Leather, 1228 Gorham St. Newmarket. I’m told that this year marks 10 years since I started running them! Again this year, we will have our beer garden, Door prizes, draws, an excellent live band, lots of vendors and our newly designed “Riders Mag Trophies” with lots of categories and classes! We hope to have a good representation of our crew out so come on out and say hi! Our new additions to our contributing writer crew seem to be working out well and I get lots of kind words about Wheelz who is owning the Hamilton/Niagara area and compliments the style and commitment of our other volunteers from that area like Rossaire and Jonathan. Maxx is making his presence known as well as is our “One Armed Bandit”, Lefty (AKA Angie). Angie’s articles about her overcoming adversities and physical challenges to get her knees in the breeze are truly inspirational! I’m glad to be able to give her the space to make them available to our readership who may themselves be, or know someone who is facing similar issues. Lil Red continues to grow her own loyal readership base and between her and Beau they seem to be doing a great job of covering Eastern and North Eastern Ont. with Beau even venturing across the Border into Quebec! Our Northern Guy, Guy is doing a great job holding down the fort up in the North Country with some help from Rebar, by the way Welcome to the Crew Rebar!! Our reps in Eastern and Western Canada also report that the Mag is being well accepted with the readers out in those areas and demand for it is growing rapidly. The reality is that advertising revenue alone is what makes the Mag possible and keeps it going and the costs of producing and distributing is substantial! There has been an increased interest exhibited by advertisers from these new areas of late, so it looks as if we be able to continue in those areas. We want to give representation to all Riders in every Province in this great Country and unify the Biker Community. As for me, personally, my worn out old carcass and the subsequent failing of parts thereof, still gets me around but I have limitations that become more prevalent and obvious with every passing day! I have managed to pick up a new pair of legs and a new spirit and they have made my coverage of recent events much better! The legs are very agile and I must say, shapely as well. They are attached to the body of our new intern “Chantel” and she
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has been amazing! You will probably start noticing her at events as she is rather young and pretty with an enormous mane of blonde hair! Her contributions go way beyond her stunning good looks and boundless energy as she is maintaining our website, updating our photo galleries and Social Media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on a regular and timely basis as she is involved in all of it. Initially, I thought I would get her to ride with me on the trike to certain events a try to flog some of our Mag Swag! I had no idea at the time that she was as keen as she has proven herself to be or the office and accounting skills that she possesses. I thought that she could perhaps try her hand at advertising sales as the loss of Scott to a career in the Landscaping Industry had left a huge void! I had been looking for someone for some time now that could take some of the strain off our overworked and over pressured Managing Editor, Al and perhaps myself as well. I was beginning to think that that person did not exist. As we have been asking around and advertising for the last couple of years and even and even tried a few. Chantel appears to be the real deal as she has done that and more, soaking up publishing and graphics knowledge and applying her own existing talents to all that she does including advertising sales! Chantel also has been accompanying me to events on the Trike and I’ve already ridden her through some pretty shitty weather to date, and she hasn’t whined or complained (To me at least) even once, yet. At the events she grabs a camera and is off and seemingly everywhere and has really caught on to the type of shots we are looking for. Being new to this, she has a few rough edges to smooth out and lots things to learn but her level of enthusiasm is very reassuring for me and bodes well for the future of The Riders Mag. I have to teach her how to ride the Trike so she can eventually venture out on her own! The Calendar Features have really caught on with our advertisers as they recognize it as the best bang for their buck. But this upcoming bimonthly edition caused us some last minute concerns and put us behind! Earlier in the Year we had advertisers fighting to get into one or both of those specific Month’s Calendars. We booked both Features to two different advertisers long ago and filled the other spots as well. As we got close to the dates to do the shoots I checked and found out that for one reason or another (Very valid reasons!) the shoots couldn’t be done. Advertisers who initially had wanted those Months had already been done in previous Months or were due to be done in future features. We moved on and filled the spots again, with others on short notice then the day before deadline, the other two advertisers again (With valid and understandable reasons!) had to back out. This left us with no calendar features for Sept. and Oct. and no much needed revenue! What a pain in the ass! In steps Len Hochberg, Lawyer Extraordinaire, and promoter of events, with two Swap Meets to advertise in October and since he also recently purchased and will revive the extremely popular and successful “Bobcaygeon Bikefest” in the summer of 2018 that he wanted to make people aware of it. We offered him a deal and he took both Months! Thank you Len! We have been using one of the bikes from the Shop of the Month feature for the Cover of the Mag but this month as we didn’t do a separate photo shoot we decided to do some shameless self-promotion and just shoot The Trike and our newest addition, Chantel right in the driveway and get it done! I always look forward to the August Long Weekend because two of my most favourite events occur and I try not to ever miss either!
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ABATE - Final Frontier 2017 The sky was grey, bleak and threatening and the weather cold as I loaded the trike and rode over to pick up Chantel and the two of us headed off to the west enroute to Priceville and to ABATE’s wonderful property for the 2017 edition of The Final Frontier. This is ABATE’s Annual camping weekend that features great events, live bands, biker games, lots of vendors and lots more. In my opinion, Chantel wasn’t really dressed for nasty weather at all should it occur. The light jacket she was wearing sure looked good but I knew that it would serve
her not too much good in the chill that hung in the air like a huge wet blanket. I tried to caution her but she insisted she would be just fine! By the time we hit Schomberg the offer of my Drover coat which I dug out of the Box was now graciously accepted and she curled up in it for the rest of the trip. She was really glad she had it sometime later as those threatening skies decided that just looking nasty wasn’t good enough and we ran into heavy rain and strong cold winds just an hour from our destination. We pulled through the gate and up to the checkpoint and I noticed a good deal of mud and large puddles extending down through the driveway. We were advised that it was pretty slick ahead and to be careful and we headed on down the driveway through the driving rain to where the drive then opened up into a sea of mud that stretched across the full width of the driveway! This was not just a little bit of light mud here and there. It was in places, thick furrows of the stuff that had been churned up by motorcycles and other previous vehicles like trucks and farm tractors and such. Efforts were being made to smooth things out and bales upon bales of straw had been laid down in an effort to provide some traction and there were more bales were on the way! A large John Deere tractor was kept busy getting campers service vehicles and other vehicles to the grassy fields of the campground! It was a scene reminiscent of the very first Final Frontier Event that they held on this property that earned the title of Mudville! But there is joy in Mudville! Now, as then nothing seems to be able to phase them, dampen their spirits or lessen the enjoyment that these fine folks have on this wonderful property at this truly fine event! Smiles
were everywhere and they just carried on and was just yet, another adventure! They were bound and determined to enjoy their time there, together! I pulled up by the stage and sheltered bar area Chantel was shivering and shaking and trying desperately to warm up digging through her stuff in hopes of finding something dry and warm. I left her there under the shelter and headed through the rain, which now seemed to be coming down even heavier, off in search of hot coffee and breakfast sandwiches, which I found, and by the time I got back she was shivering so hard that she could hardly hold the cup. The sun finally broke through however, the grey skies cleared, the rain stopped but the rivers of mud remained and now more riders be-
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gan to show up in droves. A large contingent of Bacchus MC arrived, wisely stopping just short of the giant mud pit and decided that they would pick dry spots right in that vicinity rather than do some mud surfing! By now Chantel had warmed up considerably and having dug one of the Nikons from the back of the Trike was gracefully gliding through the venue like a Gazelle and taking countless shots of absolutely everything! I loaded her on the back of the Trike and headed off through the muck and the mire and let Chantel see first-hand what this place was all about. The Trike seems to handle all road and weather conditions very well and the mud wasn’t much of a challenge either. We made a tour around the camping area getting a bunch of shots and visiting here and there along the way before heading back to the main area and await the start of the games! I have made a lot of friends here over the years so this is a time to renew acquaintances and catch up on what has been happening since we last met! I left Chantel (Greek for “The filler of memory cards!”) with the camera and she quickly disappeared while I wandered through the vendor’s area meeting with folks along the way. They have a good variety of vendors at this event selling everything from excellent food, clothing, jewelry, novelty and collectors’ items and leather goods. They also have Tattoo artists set up in their mobile units and they always do a steady business throughout the event. I normally do not have the time to linger long anywhere at this event as I have to get pictures and cover the event itself. This year with my lovely and lithe young protégé, having things well in hand I had time on my hands and ended up getting an ear pierced and a new stud from a stunning and interesting young lady named Villy who has come down from the Ottawa area. It came as no surprise that she knows our man Beau quite well. She looked fantastic in her black bustier and bowler hat with the bright red hatband that matched her red contact lenses. She had my attention so a sale was easy! I also stopped to visit with Mark Moon and check out his wares. Mark does some fantastic custom leather work turning out custom, personalized leather items such as phone cases, knife sheaths and anything you need out of his home in Woodstock! He saw me hobbling around and by the time I appeared at his booth he already had an item ready for me to check out. It was a custom made scabbard for a cane made out of heavy duty embossed leather that had been fitted with adjustable custom ties that can attach it to any motorcycle in various places. He insisted that I take it and enjoy it in my travels as he loves The Mag and figured that having a better way to carry cane might make my travels a little easier! I have it installed on my Trike right now and it fits my blinged out dragon like it was custom made! Actually the cane comes in very handy at photoshoots where I’m required to crouch down for angle shots. Getting down is relatively easy, getting back up requires some
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time and effort and having a sturdy cane handy certainly helps! Marks number is 519 535 1952. Give him a call and tell him Critter sent you! The games had begun and I thought that Chantel had things well in hand! She did until one of the Bacchus MC guys asked her to participate in events with him and she made the difficult choice between him and taking pictures and sent someone to inform me that my presence was required at the “Games Corral”.
It was no problem as I absolutely love these games and enjoy covering them and it was great to see Chantel getting immersed in the whole spirit of these events and these games are an essential part!
She was immersed all right and was having a ball, participating in many different events up to, and including the “Mud Wrestling” (Actually it was vegetable oil wresting!) As they filled a small plastic kids swimming pool with high grade vegetable oil.) I saw an entirely different side of her! That was when I figured out that this job and she are tailor made for each other! When a relatively shy girl would compete in an event where some degree of nudity isn’t really required but generally does happen at some point
definitely shows a whole new level of commitment! The oil may not have been the best choice for this event as it is hard to wash off and she slid around on the seat of my Trike all the way back and left an oil slick whenever and whenever she sat down or stood in one place long enough!
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Anyway it was a fantastic day for both of us and it was great to see you all again! It was particularly special to see Jimbo out! It has been a while and while I get reports and updates as to his health it is really reassuring when I see him in the flesh! Thanks for you kind hospitality and a great time! See you all next year, rain, shine, mud or crud, sleet snow or anything else that Mother Nature can put in our path. Brotherhood MC Bash – 2017 I have been coming to the Brotherhood events for more years than I can remember and I actually don’t recall the first one I attended, but it has been a while! For the Club, this was number 39 as they keep better track of these things than I! The event itself has changed with the times and all the other factors that dictate what happens and I have seen many changes over the years. The venue has been moved around and membership has changed here and there due to Club politics and influences, health issues, age, and so many other contributing factors that can affect any Club or organization. This is especially true of a Club that has been around as long as The Brotherhood MC has. While a lot have things have changed, the spirit and commitment to the lifestyle still remains strong it is still an awesome time! I was once again packing Chantel as she is a tremendous help and these events are so representative of The Riders Mag readers and our lifestyle and I want her to get off on the right foot and introduce her to the right people and the right events! I knew that the perspective she would gain here would be invaluable! It would give her a firm understanding of the lifestyle and the people that has been so poorly portrayed by Police, Politicians and the main stream media for years! It would counter the hype and the hooey that is portrayed by Shows and Movies like “The Sons of Anarchy”! They have altered many of the games here over the past decade, which is reflective of an older membership but many are still grittier than she had seen the day before. But they are still a blast! Casanova does such a great job announcing and getting people stirred up. Many of these folks were also at the ABATE party the day before just to take part in these games. This event is meant to be fun and many of the games and attitudes reflect it! Rules are more like guidelines and interpretations of those rules can change from moment to moment! Hell they even gave me a trophy for the Trike and I didn’t even enter it. They just felt I should have one because they liked the Trike! They however, drew the line when a three wheeled bicycle tried to enter the slow race and sent him riding off trophy less and he popped a wheelie in defiance and disappeared into the bush! Next year they may let him compete or maybe just sabotage the bicycle! It is a Club with a membership that consists of generations of families who compete against each other and with each other. Fathers, Mothers, Wives, Daughter in Laws they have been coming here for years and show no signs of slowing down and stopping isn’t even suggested! It is great to be here with this fine group of men and women and all the wonderful people who, like me, come out to support the event and enjoy a fantastic afternoon! I have made many friends here over the years and it is always good to be able to spend some time with them! Once again I had Ch-
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antel to do photographic duty until she was again asked to participate and again she threw me the camera and herself headlong into the events! There was an interesting suggestion by Rick Gibson that they run the Tug of War over the pond and let that huge Snapping Turtle and Leeches who reside in there deal with the losers! They may be considering it! Anyway, I could write more but we have lots of pictures and the more I write the fewer pictures we can use! Next year will mark 40 Years and they are planning a huge party! Watch your Riders Mag for updates! It will be worth it! Thanks Guys and Gals for your incredible hospitality and to Gordo for hunting down the 50 for me!
Mark (Fat Bastard) D’Angelo – April 10, 1962 – Aug. 4, 2017 – RIP I knew that Mark was sick for some time and his ultimate passing wasn’t unexpected but it is still a shock to the system when the final word comes down. I rode up to Alliston for the funeral and joined his friends and family in their grief. There was a good sized pack of motorcycles and I joined them to escort Mark to a local Church for the funeral service. Un fortunately I was unable to go back for the reception and celebration of life as I had other commitments. Mark was well respected in the Motorcycle Community and has produced some great looking motorcycles! I know he has won several trophies at my Show and Shines over the years! He was a good man who loved life and lived it to the fullest! He will be missed by all who knew him!
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Brothers of the Blade Dice Run 2017 The weatherman had been forecasting some nasty crap for this day all week and as always when that happens attendance can go into the dumper. In the dumper where the Brothers of the Blade are concerned, is when they don’t get all of the usual’s! Some only ride under pristine conditions. The Blades have a solid contingent of hard core folks who come out in any kind of weather just to party with these people because they know how to party and let nothing stand in their way! The weather just determines whether they are going to on a ride or just go into party mode, indoors or out! So it came as no real surprize when we wheeled the Trike into the back of the Clubhouse to find a huge pack of bikes and a large crowd of people gathered there! Looking around I recognized many people or their motorcycles. I could also spot the missing faces who would have been there had the weather forecasts been better! I also knew that some show up later for the games and party! So you just go with what you get! All in all it was a very respectable pack of around 65 motorcycles and we started out under blue skies and sunshine but dark clouds were gathering on the horizon and we knew in our hearts that at some point we would run into rain. The only real mystery was when, where, how much and for how long! Truthfully no one really cared! It is nice to ride in warm sunshine all the time but it would also be nice to win the Lottery! Neither of those things have happened to me anyone I know, so we just take what we get and make the best of it! One thing was certain we had some great people along to enjoy whatever happened! I once again, brought our new Intern, Chantel, along and she has really taken a solid interest in The Riders Mag and the events! She is becoming quite adept with the cameras and I may get our main photographer “Squirrel” to give her some actual instruction in the finer points of photography so she can actually be called a photographer someday! My Old Guy with a decent Camera using “the take lots of pictures in auto mode and hope for the best method” gets me by but I think having someone who really knows what they are doing could be more helpful. I had always recognised the fact that it would be great to have someone along on the back of my bike to help out at events and take pictures of the pack while on rides such as this would be great! But up until recently I’ve always traveled alone and other than a couple of occasions when I was able to coerce someone into hopping on the back, I do it all myself, sometimes holding the camera over the windshield as we roll along and just clicking away and such that really was never that effective and could even be deemed somewhat dangerous! There have been lots of ladies over the years who said they want to do it! However, talk is just talk! When I tell them what time we have to leave in the morning and the weather you are going to ride (Not drive!) through to get to the destination on time they suddenly have a change of heart! This is the amazing part about finding people like Chantel and all our other contributors who are willing to ride through all kinds of crap, at all hours of the night and day, on their own dime to cover events! They are very few and far between and when you find one you grab onto them and hope you can hold onto them forever! We are all volunteers here! Yes that includes Managing Editor Al and myself! If you guys and gals out there hear of talented people who are willing to work long hours (Including weekends and holidays!) for no pay or benefit packages and have to cover their own expenses, send them to me, I could use more!
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Anyway the dice run got underway and we rode without incident through miles of beautiful scenic countryside arriving at the first of two stops The Belvedere Cookhouse in the heart of beautiful Downtown Pefferlaw where we hooked up with Members of Brothers of the Blades MC Muskoka Chapter. We enjoyed some refreshments and headed off to our second stop, The Pub in Port Perry. Enroute, the back half of the pack was pulled over by a Durham Regional Police OďŹƒcer right in Port Perry who took exception to our riding that many motorcycles through his Town without advising them that we were coming! He also objected to our use of Blockers (A time honoured method at which Members of the Brothers of the Blade MC are extremely proficient) at intersections that allows the Club to move a large number of motorcycles efficiently, effectively, quickly and safely along the roadways causing the least amount of congestion and confusion possible!
After some discussion between himself one other Cop who showed up sometime later and Members of the Club he blocked the intersection for us and let us continue on our way to our destination that was one block away! To the credit of these officers, they did not call in backup, thereby causing a spectacle with a dozen cruisers with lights flashing surrounding a small pack of bikers on a charity run as happened many times in the past. We were back on our way with nobody getting a ticket so all’s well that ends well. We settled in, or more to the point, overwhelmed the already crowded parking lots, bar, staff, kitchens and patio of The Pub! That was true before Mother Nature unleashed her fury on us! The sky blackened the winds picked up sending several of the large patio umbrellas sailing and then the rain started! Already harried staff scrambled to rescue umbrellas before they were launched out over Lake Scugog and bring in stuff off of the tables while having to run through a gauntlet of people who were also trying to seek shelter inside an already overcrowded bar!
It was short-lived but changed the complexion of the run as riders headed out at in smaller groups taking different routes back to the BOTB MC Clubhouse which was the final stop anyways. We all arrived back safe and sound but some wetter than others as the storms were in small cells spread all over the region and some got soaked while others didn`t see a drop! Gord and Dave from Black Gold Leather had set up tables and racks of some of his great products down by the pond and was doing a great business. Gord has supported this ride and other BOTB events for years now and always donates door prizes. The Members of the BOTB MC would like me to extend their appreciation and thanks! They started the games portion of the day and everybody had a ball! It was great to see Members of The Black Diamond Riders out for the day and participating in the games! Everything is incredible here, the food, the people, the atmosphere and the sense of comradery. The Club and their supporters do a lot to make these events a success as they are the used to fund the WISH (Working in Support of the Handicapped) Foundation that the BOTB MC administer. So much good comes from the funds raised and the Blades are always looking to improve things, keep them fresh, interesting and fun! Thanks to all of you for an incredible day!
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One for the road
So, August has been one hell of a month! Not only has Mother Nature given us weather that’s a surprise every minute, we’ve dealt with a huge gouge out of a tire that grounded us, being sick, Mike damn near cutting his finger clean off and did I mention the damn weather!! This summer has not given us much in the way of ideal riding weather. This doesn’t stop us from planning and booking rooms for what should be great long weekend of riding with some pretty memorable scenic roads. Not to mention the fun along the way. Now Mike’s pretty committed in checking over our rides prior to the riding season, during the season as well as always before a ride that will monopolize a few of our days. It can get costly trying to get a tow, even repairs done, when you’re in unfamiliar territory. Here’s a note, a great ass or a fantastic rack sometimes helps!!! Just kiddin’. I decided to pack while he does the bike stuff, cause I’m a compulsive packer. I mean, the strangest thing you may need when going away, there’s a good chance I got it. Qtips, wet wipes, face creams, clippers, hand creams, barrettes, gawd I could go on…. This is when Mike comes into the room, showing me a pic of what looks like a tire missing some very important rubber. Remember people, rubber is important!!!! On a Friday night. When everything is closed. Panic sets in. We’ve booked rooms, paid for them, friends are waiting. This is where being part of such an incredible motorcycle community pays off. Mike went online, as did I, to get the numbers and hours of the local places we’d check in the morning. I reached out to our editor Al to see if he had contact info on a couple of our advertisers, CC Cycles (Mike remembered that CC Cycles had a set of tires in the shop, and he was hoping they may fit) and we were also going to try Make It Roar.. I even reached out to friends of friends. Tonight, just messages. We’ll try again in the morning. Now morning hits and we were supposed to depart at 10 am. Our friends Kate and Rod (you remember, the guy that sees chickens and ferrets and such while out riding), are on their way to wait while we remedy the situation. Mike suggested we leave without him, but I don’t think he’d do that to us, so we all reject the suggestion. Call after call, nothing. Then, Mike gets a call. Brian at CC Cycles. He figured out we were looking for him. Mike
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…..with Lil Red
explained the situation and Brian said he’d call back as he was gonna check. Called back and sure enough, they might fit. Giddy up! We headed down and were met with both Brian and Dell (Dell was kind enough to come in on his Saturday off to help Mike out). After a few pleasantries were outta the way, tires were ready and we were headed back home. Not long after, Mike had the new tires on, and we were off. Next stop was the Kingston ferry to Wolfe Island. From there, we were headed to the States. If you’ve never made the trek, you should. It’s 11 kms across Wolfe Island, from one ferry to the next. We left the first ferry and upon our arrival to the next ferry stop, we all stopped dead in our tracks. The pier was completely flooded over. I’m talking waves like you’ve never seen. Ugh, ok, back to other ferry, again, and leaving Mike and Rod to re-plan a new route to our destination. This was a story that seemed to be the talk of every stop we made. We decided to continue to let Rod ahead of us at border crossings and toll booths, cause he’d tell the story to the customs agent, toll booth operator or other ferry boat workers, and we’d slide through these check points after him. Easy peazy. Now the rest of the weekend, from Watertown to Alexandria Bay, then Cornwall, then back to Kingston and home, was pretty much clouded over the entire time. Shitty really. But we all were good about it, it’s the company you keep and we did a lot of laughing so it’s all an adventure. We did get to ride a beautiful route that I highly recommend. It’s called Long Sault Parkway just west of Cornwall. Really beautiful ride. Beaches, picnic areas, lots of folks riding bicycles, walking and such. Great Sunday idea I’m thinking. Now CC Cycles not only helped Mike with his tires, but a buddy of ours (also named Mike) who owns a restaurant in Campbellford called Chubbys (Delicious roast beef buffet dinner) took his 80’s HD in for some much needed repairs. After talking to the owner, Mike, about the repairs and such, he had nothing but wonderful things to say about Brian, Dell and the shop itself. This shop advertises in the Mag, and I’m a firm believer in supporting our advertisers. It’s a whole lot easier to do when they give us and our readers excellent customer service and repairs like CC Cycles did. I must apologize to the fine folks at Bikes on Bond, as we were supposed to go to this event (in fact, we looked forward to it). However, the Friday before was when Mike had his accident where he damn near cut his finger clean off. So this made for a difficult plan of action. We had friends go, and even though it called for rain, a lot of bikes showed for the event. To our disappointment, we missed this year, but we’re already marking our calendar to keep the date open
for next year’s event. One night we took the opportunity to ride into Kingston to Raxx for bike night. After parking our bikes and heading for the restaurant, I noticed a young lad riding in on a little battery-operated motorcycle. I had to get a pic of this. He had a leather vest on and everything. Talking to his Mom Aliesha, I found out his name is Carter, and he loves that bike. I couldn’t not take a pic. Future biker in the making. Now onto a very proud moment for us as riders. You meet some pretty badass folks when you ride a
motorcycle. I had the privilege (however brief) to meet a young boy named Patrick. This boy was at many of our local rides, from the Ride for Paws to the HHR. He was handicapped, and he would be waving the riders through every ride, showing his undying love and support for the rolling thunder. Unfortunately, he passed away. So when the call went out, looking for bikers to escort him on his final ride through
thunder alley, we were not going to miss it. We had to go. A bunch of riders were asked to escort Patrick passed his home and onto the church, where we panned out while Patrick rode his last ride through. While he made his way, we all twisted our throttles and gave him his final thunder alley! I’ll admit, I cried like a little bitch. What a great kid though! Quite a number of bikers showed up and not a dry
et. Their annual swap meet is coming on Sept. 16! QUINTE RIDE FOR PAWS IS BACK!! Now it’s coming on Aug 27. Last year there were over 300 bikes there, and they raised damn near $10,000 for local charities. A silent auction, door prizes and vendors. Oh, and the hot blonde Tam and her feisty little firecracker of a friend Nedi are the ones getting the Mag into your toasty little fingers all over Trenton, the base, even local dentist offices. And if you’re bike is in a parking lot, and they’re there, you’d better run cause they will chase you down with Mags in their hands. I love these girls!!!! Don’t forget Critters event! Black Gold, Critter, and the Crew are having a show ‘n shine and it’s always a good time. Vendors, BBQ, live music, trophies. And who doesn’t want to party with Critter?? For more events, catch me on FB, just search for L’il Red. Email is lilred@theridersmag. com. Looking forward to catching up with ya in September! Quick note….at the Rideau Rendezvous event, I found a cute pair of shorts that said “Spank me, it’s the only way I’ll learn!” and I should’ve bought ‘em. If you find them, lemme know!!! I’ll owe ya one!
eye among us. Absolute respect. Now for what’s goin’ on. Classy Chassis has bbqs on Saturdays, and it’s busy. Some of the bbqs are held to raise funds to assist charities. Bikes from all over show up, it’s where we catch up with a lot of our buddies. Great bbq food, always good folks there to help with parts, service and some cool leathers or t-shirts, hell whatever you fancy to spend that money on that’s burning a hole in your pock-
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In last month’s issue, my first article was published in The Riders Mag for which I am most thankful to Critter. In it, I took the opportunity to introduce myself and my being born with a congenital birth defect to my right forearm as well as a deep love of motorcycles and my longing to ride my own one day. I also gave you a high level introduction to my 2017 Honda Rebel 300. This is the month that all the pieces come together!! But before we get there, I will tell you a bit about where my bike - Hankster, has taken me. A motorcycle in my mind is not simply a mode of transportation. It is a lifestyle. Because of it, I`ve done things which I may not have otherwise done and met people whom I may never have come across. I have come to find out very quickly that the motorcycle community is the most sincere, welcoming, and supportive, helpful and inspiring group of people that I have ever met. A short time ago, a fellow rider asked me if I logged my trips in a journal. I replied “no”. He suggested that I start since each ride would bring new adventures which if not recorded, would be forgotten very quickly. He mentioned that he often referred back to his logs and was amazed at all the places that he had been to, the things that he had done and the people whom he had met - all because of a motorcycle. I quickly found how right he was. Do you maintain a log? If not, do you recall the thrill of your first ride? Where did you go? Where did you stop? Whom did you meet? How many places have you gone since then? What have you done that if not for the motorcycle, you would have missed? Who do you know today that if not for your love of riding, would not be in your life? What have I done since I started to ride my own bike in
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July? I rode to Collingwood and hung out at the Wasaga Bike Rally West hosted by Thurst-T’s Cycle where I was fortunate to meet Critter and the awesome folks at The Rider’s Mag. It was early in the day when my hubby Lloyd and our friend Glenn arrived. Three amigos - three bikes. This was my first time participating in anything motorcycle related as a rider. It was a great day and the sun was shining - how rare has THAT been this summer? People were in good spirits, chatting amongst themselves and proudly sharing details about their bikes of which there was a wide variety which was impressive to me, seeing how early in the day it was. I enjoy checking out vendors any chance that I get. I am attracted to leather fashion, jewelry, and well - anything. There was a great variety of vendors at this event - everyone was so helpful and willing to discuss their selections. Of special interest was walking into ThurstT’s Cycle to see the bikes which they had on display. What can be better than strolling around, trying out possible future bikes for size, fit and comfort? I participated in my first group ride; I was the second bike in a group of 7. The leader, Andre, safely challenged me with curves, hills and a bit of speed. I managed to keep up with an 1800 Harley. What a thrill! I met Alain, Kevin and Mark and together with my husband Lloyd, we rode in a heavy Downpour to the Freedom Machine Vintage Custom and Antique Motorcycle Show. It was the first time that we had met one another - except for myself and Lloyd of course. I should know him very well after being together for 34 years!! We had become acquainted as a result of a motorcycle group on Facebook called Motorcycle Society (Ontario). This is a closed group however you can request to become a member. The group was started by Jason North and it is a fantastic place to share stories, ask questions, get advice, sell and swap items, post events, you get the idea. Jason formed this shortly after becoming a new rider. He found that he loved riding so much that he wanted a forum where people could share their experiences. I can say first hand that this is a fantastic, warm and welcoming group. Back to the story..... Alain, Kevin, Mark, Lloyd and I met at an Esso located on the west side of Trafalger Road in Milton just south of the 401. I have quickly come to learn that this is a frequent meeting place of riders. All of your needs are met - gas and a Timmy’s. What could be better? Let me guess - ice cream? What is it with motorcyclists and ice cream anyways? Anyhow, I digress! Once meeting we discussed our route and we rode off into the cloudy morning. Why wear rain gear when rain is a distinct possibility? This was my second group ride - I was 2nd again and very comfortable with this. No sooner did we leave that a few sprinkles fell. Okay, I told myself, not too bad. As a new rider, I was and am still nervous about
riding long distances in the rain however, I felt confident knowing that I had others around me. Once we passed Arthur, Mother Nature’s motorcycle wash became a reality. It didn’t just rain, it stormed. I remember feeling every rain drop run down my back in addition to into my knee high riding boots. Then there were the raindrops on the tank which slowly dripped into my jeans. Fantastic!! I recall the rain just pounding on my legs and thinking about our rain gear safe and dry in my hubby’s trunk on his bike. Why stop now? Well, we were on the open road - there was nowhere to stop anyway... until we got into Mount Forest. Like an oasis, there stood Tim Horton’s.... and a friendly neighborhood Esso across the street. Seems that Esso and Timmy’s have a thing going! After we filled our tanks, we swam into Tim Hortons - while I should have been jumping for joy at being out of the rain, I immediately became chilled. Awesome! My jeans were soaked, my socks weighed 100 pounds and the rain gear was still in the trunk on hubby’s Yamaha V star 950 tourer. We sat, drank tea and coffee, swapped stories and tried to dry out while we waited for the storm to pass. I faced the window looking out at the Esso across the street and watched as bikers pulled in, one after the other in rain gear. Once the rain let up, hubby retrieved said gear and I promptly went into the washroom, pulled off my soaked jeans and socks, and replaced them with my rain pants and soaked riding boots. Lovely! We did eventually arrive at the event where I once again, checked out bikes and vendors. While there, I was persuaded to throw an axe, and while reluctant at first, I finally agreed to do so. Am I glad that I did! I was amazed how good I felt once I finally hit the target after several attempts. I went to Bike Night in Paris with my hubby and friend Phil. By the time we got there, the parking lot was filled with bikes. We stopped, engines running, looking for a place to park. Almost immediately upon stopping, I heard someone say “Hey, you think that just because you’re a celebrity that you can block the road”? This is how I met Jack. Jack and I had also met on the motorcycle group on Facebook referenced above. It was so great to finally put a voice to the face and name. We parked our bikes, and I was immediately approached by a couple of very tall male riders who asked about my bike. When I explained how it worked, they both gave me hugs and were thrilled for me. Strangers, yet not so much. I recently returned from a trip that took hubby and I to Gananoque, Kingston, Pembroke, North Bay, and Barrie. I was again challenged - this time with 400 series highways, speeds of 100km/hour (new for me), twisty roads in Muskoka and all types of weather. These are all places that we had often talked about visiting and, if not for the motorcycles, we would probably still be talking. While in Gananoque, we went on a boat cruise
of the Thousand Islands which was amazing! In Kingston, we visit the Kingston Penitentiary. If you are interested in this type of thing, I suggest that you ride out there and go on a tour. There are two types - we went on what is called the standard tour which was 90 minutes in duration. It was very informative and included 3 former guards and a Warden who shared some tales about what life was like. Premium tours are 2 1/2 hours in length and include historical, architectural and criminological components. I think that I would like to go back and do this as well. I rode to Fergus and Elora with hubby where we stopped and ate at the Metcalfe Restaurant. It was nice to sit on the patio and grab a bite before riding home. Once again, these are places that we had often talked about but never visited. If you have not ridden to either, I would suggest that you do and plan to stop in both locations. The weekends find many bike riders passing through and there are also nice shops and restaurants especially in Elora where you can also view the gorge. I went for my first ride by myself - not too far but off I went. I wanted to go somewhere familiar so I returned
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to Elora and Fergus which is about a 2 hour loop from home. And of course, last but not least, I rode to Port Dover, one and a half times. How can this be? The second time hubby and I tried to ride to Port Dover, the wind became too much for me to manage as I was only a few weeks into riding. Rather than complete the trip, we went to Burlington and ate hotdogs and hamburgers at Easterbrook’s instead. All of the rides mentioned would not have been possible had I not had the good fortune to meet the right people at the right time. You see, I cannot just sit on a bike and ride - I require modifications because I can only ride with one hand - my left. My very first ride on my own bike was in a parking lot in Barrie on Saturday, June 10 of this year while my biggest supporter, hubby Lloyd and friend Glenn watched. I had actually taken delivery of Hankster, my 2017 Honda Rebel 300 several weeks earlier however could not ride it until all modifications being completed. I actually purchased the bike twice! You will come to know (if you have not figured this out already) that with me, there is always a story. So how did I go from driving around the city of Montreal as a teenager, blasting Led Zeppelin from the radio of my Mother’s Mercury Monarch, to actually owning and riding my own motorcycle? My family and I moved from Montreal to Toronto in 1983. I was just about to hit my 20`s and remember visiting a variety of Colleges and Universities to check out programs which might be available to me. Motorcycles were the farthest thing from my mind although they still caused my head to turn whenever they passed by. In order for me to commence studies at the University level, it was deter-
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mined that is would be best to wait until I reached the age of 21 which would allow me to submit an application as a mature student. Until then, I had to find employment. Believe me, it was hard enough for me to find work. Being born with a visible uniqueness (as I refer to it - for me the term “disability” just does not work) caused some “speculation” and apprehension from prospective employers. People see what they choose to see and often (and unfortunately) form opinions based on this. Despite others perceptions of me, I always seemed to find a way to accomplish things - why could I NOT do something? It seemed illogical. Fast forward to a few years ago - 2015 perhaps. Lots of stories are being skipped over however there will be another opportunity to get to those. For the purpose of this article, it’s June 2015. My band, BARE RUMP Tribute To AC/DC was back performing at Ride For Sight in Fenelon Falls after being absent for a few years. Being around a large number of motorcycles and being offered and accepting rides re-awoke my passion for riding. How could I have let so many years go by without having a motorcycle in my life? What had I been thinking?? Last year I asked my hubby to get a motorcycle license. He did, and shortly thereafter bought his first bike - a 2006 Yamaha 650 V Star. It was great having our own motorcycle - I always wanted to be on it! I was so depressed when the riding season ended because we only got the bike in late summer and Lloyd needed practice time before getting me on as a passenger. As a result, we did not have many opportunities to ride. Being on the back was fun - I was finally a part of the biking community. BUT...... seeing the bike sitting in the garage made me angry because I could not take it out for a spin on my own. I do not like to rely on others to do things - I like to do things for myself. I wanted to ride my own bike. I mentioned it to Lloyd and started talking to friends about it. I googled “one arm riders” on the Internet and there they were - motorcycle racers with one arm, videos of riders cruising with one arm, riding groups for people with challenges... I saw these visions as Angels of the motorcycle community and they had fired me up. If they could do it, so could I!!!! Hubby and I went to the Motorcycle Supershow in January of this year. Our goal - to find someone that could modify a motorcycle so that I could ride with my left hand. There was no-one. We had not planned on getting a new bike but this is what happens when you are walking around a show displaying new and used motorcycles of multiple types. We bought a Yamaha 950 V Star Tourer and traded in the 650. Still no bike for me. Then came the Toronto Motorcycle Show in February. This is what I had waited for - I wanted to see the Manufacturers and to talk to them about how they could make my dream of riding a reality. Enter Sid - Sales Representative from Barrie Honda. I felt so comfortable speaking with him and explaining my situation - one hand (left) and my need to ride. He introduced me to the 2017 Honda Rebel and things began to take shape. After spending a good amount of time with me, he introduced me to Nick (District Sales Manager Hon-
da Canada Inc.). I quickly learned that this would be possible. Nick explained what he thought could be done to get me on the bike. My smile and excitement grew. After Sid and Nick spent a combined 2+ hours with me, I put a down payment a 2017 Honda Rebel 300 - red. I was jumping for joy as I left the show. Not too long afterwards, I began to have second thoughts. Not one school would be willing to let me use my own bike in a rider training course. I could get private lessons however would then have to go to an MTO Drive Test Centre to get my M2. On top of this was the cost of any modifications and insurance as an M1 rider. My head began to spin - I panicked and with deep regret called Sid to cancel the deal. He was so supportive and understanding and made Nick aware of the situation. I was then connected with Don (Executive Director, Learning Curves Foundation) who agreed to let me use my own bike for the rider training and M1 exit examination. I was thrilled and once again, put a down payment on the red 2017 Honda Rebel 300. This is how I bought the bike twice. I had to have the bike insured as an M1 rider since I would need to use my Rebel at the training course. While waiting for the bike to be delivered to Barrie Honda, I met with Todd from Mission Cycle in Angus. Todd was suggested by friends of mine, Donna and Randy. From the minute I spoke with Todd over the phone, I knew that he was the guy to get me on my own bike. I met with him prior to taking delivery and we chatted about what could be done which included a possible “gas pedal”. It was so exciting! I took possession of the bike in May of this year. I knew immediately that I would name “him” Hankster after the goalie of the New York Rangers - Henrik Lundqvist, who WILL hoist the cup after this year’s hockey season ends. No booooing or groaning allowed!! The bike was transported from Barrie Honda to Mission Cycle in Angus. I recall sitting on my bike for the very first time in the parking lot while Todd checked out how it did and did not fit me. We discussed moving the handlebars and the possibility of adding a back rest. He had my safety at heart from day one. After taking some pictures of me on the bike, it was time to leave. It was like saying goodbye to a good friend that you knew you would never see again even though you promised to keep in touch. The weeks that followed felt like a lifetime. I truly do not know who was more excited - myself or Todd. He kept me informed on what he was doing every step of the way and would text me pictures as he completed various stages of modifications (i.e. the installation of the finger throttle, the modified clutch, the re-positioning of the handlebars and front brake). On Saturday June 10 the bike was ready. So what makes Hankster different from the others? A finger throttle on the left handle bar, an automatic clutch which was designed by EFM Auto Clutch in Ohio and the front brake being moved to what is your clutch lever. The auto clutch disengages the engine automatically based on the rpm’s - I still shift and do everything else that you do.
Todd spent over an hour with me going over the modifications, demonstrating how to ride, and then, he went over safety. He truly cared about my wellbeing and discussed several ways that I could balance the bike as I would only be using my left hand. Todd never doubted me and brought my dreams to life!! Glenn and hubby Lloyd loaded Hankster onto Glenn’s trailer and off we went to a parking lot in Barrie, where they carefully offloaded my bike. I put on my motorcycle boots, my red and black motorcycle jacket, followed by my red and black GT Air helmet and gloves. Funny - I felt just like the kid who wore the black leathers and full face helmet with dark shield to ride a moped many, many, MANY, years before - but this time the kid was a bit older and getting onto her own MOTORCYCLE!! I was nervous when I first sat on the bike - I didn’t know what to do. Glenn suggested that he and Lloyd push me like they would do in a training course. I agreed. As soon as they did that, I felt comfortable enough to try to ride. I got the bike going and off I went! I LOVED IT! I practiced starting, stopping, turning - it was great! I was riding!!!! Next month I will share more adventures in addition to talking about getting my M1 and rider training. Remember - there’s always a story! If you wish to connect along the way, please feel free to do so at angsan@sympatico.ca , www.problemsolved.ca or on Facebook @angproblemsolved
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Talking With Tilly
Ello ello my loves, hope you are all enjoying your summer, and finding yourselves dry and warm. I am loving this summer, even with all of the rain and craziness of Mother Nature which all of us can’t stop talking about. There has been non-stop smiles, and the privilege of meeting some of the greatest people in the world, well, at least my world haha! I have a feeling that a lot of my writing is going to be thanking people for having me and treating me so well everywhere I go. Many exciting things have happened this month, and I am one of the luckiest girls to have the platform to share it. The first exciting thing to happen to me was the birth of my 2nd God Daughter, Shaylynn Helene Marie Lavalle. She was born July 25th @ 6:31pm weighing a very healthy 8lbs 4oz, and absolutely adorable! Right after that was my lovely little boys 8th birthday! He is getting so big, 8yrs old wholly cannoli!! I know it is cliché but where has the time gone? I am very blessed to have Aidan as my son. What a polite, empathetic, and intelligent boy I have been graced with! For his birthday it was a really great time, we did water balloon fights, piñata smashing, so much food, loads of kids and adults, and much appreciated gifts!! Thank you to everyone who came out to that! After all the birthday celebrations, came time to get ready for A.B.A.T.E Final Frontier, and for the Brotherhood Bash. Both of
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which I have heard amazing things about, and I was super stoked to go to them! They lived up to their reputations that’s for sure! First we were to head up to the Final Frontier grounds. It was, of course raining and cold as fuck! But that doesn’t stop us, thank goodness! The ride there may not have been my least favorite ride ever, but it definitely wasn’t my most favorite. Although we were only staying for the afternoon, I had heard this was a messy (but fun) event, also I have learned that the only faith to have in Mother Nature is that she’s an unpredictable one. So before Critter came to pick me up I was sure to pack 3 sets of clothes, and 3 changes of shoes in my oversized bag, in my mind I was prepared. Well I went out to get on The Riders Mag trike in my yellow leather jacket, black studded leather boots, sunglasses, and a big smile on my face (the sun was shining at this time). Critter takes one look at me in my ou�it and says, “I brought an extra rain Jacket, if you get cold tell me.” Well thank the Gods he thinks even further ahead than I because not 45 mins later were we pulled over so I could put this life saving coat over myself and try my darndest not to freeze. And I must say it worked, until about 20 mins away from the Frontier grounds when the rain started down pouring. It was hard and fast, and wouldn’t quit, in the worst way. But when we got to our destination there were smiling faces to greet us, and warm coffee to seep into my bones. We got some luck as the clouds started rolling away, and that pretty golden sun rode in. With mention of gold riding in, here came the BACCHUS crew! And here I thought I had the nerve to complain about the rain and cold, and they came from much further than us. These guys are a great bunch, so many smiles and hugs and very warm introductions. I was very lucky to meet the owner and operator of our very own Metal and Ink. It was so great to finally put a face to the name, and the art work. I bought one their support shirts, and it is such a beautifully well done shirt, the artwork is
breathtaking. I was a lucky duck and received some pretty wicked stickers from another great B.A.C.C.H.U.S brother. Ohoo then came the games, and what great games they were. I was granted the opportunity to play in the games and partner up with Mickey. Unfortunately for him I broke his winning streak, before we partnered up he was the reigning first place winner in the earlier events and I failed him haha. I decided to join in on the wrestling, but before that, one of the beautiful vendors named Tracy gave me a beautiful pair of tights to wear after the match. They fit like a dream, look awesome and I am actually wearing them as I write this haha. Previous years it had been mud, but they wanted to try to something new this year and used oil. It was wet, slippery, and oodles of fun. The girls that were involved with the wrestling were so much fun to play fight with, they had great personalities and of course all super
pretty. Thank you so much for having me, and allowing me to play in the games with you all, and use your soap. After the games was back to business, well as serious as we get at The Mag, and made my way over to one the vendors on site that Critter had said I would just adore. As usual Critter was right, Villy from Pleasurable Pain Piercing was such a treat. Jeeze I loved this girl with her bowler hat, red contacts, and bright smile how could you not. She was soft spoken, and I had the chance to sit in on one of her clients buying new jewelry and caught a few quick pictures. She was so friendly, knowledgeable, and photogenic, you will be hearing more of her in a later issue. With the fun and games coming to an end, it was time to get heading home before the rain attacked. After jumping in the pond to try and get the oil off, I was seeking the warmth of my shower and comfort of my squishy bed. Not to mention my little Aidal Wise, and my fur children. Not too long after my head hit the pillow, and my little blond head filled with dreams of bikes and hay, had I woken up to another day of bikes and hay, hoorayy haha!! Critter showed up Sunday morning and we made it to the
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Brotherhood grounds much lighter in both spirit and weight due to the lack of water. We were again greeted with the happiest faces and warmest welcomes. I was introduced to the master of ceremony, his beautiful wife, and the other 3 squirrel sisters right off the hop. Thinking about it now is putting a big smile on my face, I am so happy I was able to join in on the smiles and laughter. What a great family that brotherhood is. As the day got brighter and more beautiful, more bikes and their riders rolled in, Brothers from all over the map. That’s when I heard this cheerful voice over the P.A system, directing Riders as to where their bike should be placed for the Show ‘N’ Shine. All the while, creating bouts of laughter from the crowd with his comedy that was as loud as the bikes, well pretty darn close. When the show ‘n’
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shine was finished, it was time for the games. The Brotherhood put on such a great event, and were phenomenal hosts. All the games were very well planned out, some off which I had never heard of like ‘The Guzzle and Boot?’ (I believe that was the name of it) but it was great fun watching the guys, and the girls compete, even more fun competing! At one point I got so completely engulfed in taking pictures and catching the smiles of riders, that I almost became one with the Earth. Luckily those gazelle powers Critter speaks of jumped in and I bound out of the way. On another note, I Have to say a big thank to those lovely ladies that were on my team for tug of war, you guys made my day! And to my other two partners, Ryan and a brother from the Weasles (I am sorry I don’t think I caught your name) thank you for having me as a partner, and I look forward to seeing you all again next year! Friday afternoon of the next week came fairly quickly, and while I thought about giving tattoos on Saturday, Critter had thoughts of The Brothers of The Blades Poker run. He sent me a text Friday evening asking if I would like to join him on this run. I of course excitedly accepted his invitation. This was an opportunity we had both talked about, being able to use the camera on the back of the bike to show the magnitude of some these rides, which he had said he wasn’t able to do on his own, for obvious reasons. The morning
was warm and sunny with not a cloud in the sky, I ran out the door excitedly and forgot my sunglass on my coffee table. (One other beautiful ladies was kind enough to lend me her extra pair though thank you again.) We made it to The Blades CH in no time, as it is in our neck of the woods, said our warm hellos, and soon set off to our first stop.
It was so great to see all of the riders out on this gorgeous day riding in harmony, and loving the road. We did however have a bit of a hiccup. That little boy in blue came blowing his horn, and his one friend came following behind him. But of course that was short lived, how could ya give such a great looking group trouble. Mother Nature did not have the same sentiments, as she decided to once again show her true colours of this year and paint the sky black, and turn the streets in to rivers. We all seeked cover to say the least. When the storm passed, we found ourselves on the trike and headed back to The Blades House. Those Brothers make sure you have a great time, and always have the games going, great food, great company, great music, bottom line Friggen GREAT! Thank you guys for having me at another event of yours and including me in all the fun! Can’t wait til next time! Now it is time to go to bed I should try to get some rest, as we are back on deadline. I believe I have said my thank you’s and if I haven’t I am terribly sorry. Also if you are interested in receiving copies of your pictures from these events please feel free to contact me at chantel@theridersmag.com and I would be more than happy to send them your way. One last thank you to Critter, Al, The Riders Mag Crew, sponsors, and readers for making this all happen! Keep shining you beautiful people.
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The 22nd annual Run to the North Wall was held on July 2nd and it was 22 years to the day of the first ride, I have attended this ride for the last 5 years, and this to me was the best turn out so far, and I must say, the North Wall Riders’ Association, could give lessons to anyone wanting to put on any type or ride, well planned out, well organized, and everyone leaving and arriving at the same time, this is an huge success when you consider the logistics of having 300 plus motorcycles leaving a venue in the county and travelling all the way to the waterfront as one group, this was and is always impressive, no injuries, no hassles, very very well organized So 3 guys walk in to a bar, sounds like the start of another joke doesn’t it? Well, this didn’t turn out to be any joke at all. Donny Pacheco, Joe Oswell, and Benji Mastronardi, along with Tim Iles, Jeanine Lassaline-Berglund started something in the town of Leamington that is turning out to be something spectacular. The Mrs. and I rode, as you can see by the pic, yep that’s actually with that beautiful lady. The second annual Hogs for Hospice was held in Leamington on August 4, 5 and 6th, and the south-
ern-most town in Canada will never be the same. This ride is still in its’ infancy and already they have gathered more than 1.000 motorcyclists and riders to enjoy a weekend filled with music, games, and an incredible ride to the southern-most tip of the Canadian mainland. The thing that impresses me most is that in only their second year it is incredible how well organized Joe and his army of volunteers have made this event, from the local OPP de-
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tachment and all the volunteer blockers the ride was one continuous flow from the start all the way to Colchester. From the concerts on Friday that included Love Razer and Hairball and Saturday night with Our Lady Peace, a FMX demonstration by Jason Thorne that thrilled the crowd, to the bike games on Sunday sponsored by Bob’s Tattoos, no accidents, no incidents, and from what I experienced everyone had a great time. If they keep increasing in size, I’m not sure where they are going to park all the bikes either at Seacliff Park or Colchester, the roads we jammed. The weather could not have been more perfect either, the ride was dedicated to veterans, and veterans were able to attend all events for free. The North Wall Riders Association started things off leading the seemingly endless stream of bikes, from the town of Leamington, to the tip of Point Pelee, to the Colchester Bar and Grill and back to enjoy a BBQ lunch, and browse through the many displays set up, of just sit and chat with old friends and make some new ones. According to preliminary reports they raised in excess of $50,000.00 for Hospice. I’m really not sure how to congratulate these dedicated individuals on their efforts, only to say that I’m sure I will be coming back again and again to witness this spectacular event. Congratulations to one and all for you dedication and efforts, I can assure you it is not without notice. Ride safe Lockup Sunday August 6 2017 Bob’s Biker Games were the cherry on top to an already great weekend in Leamington at the Hogs for Hospice 3 Day Motorcycle Rally. The weather was perfect and the attendance was record breaking. When the games began Erin Holt the MC didn’t have to coax the crowd for game participants, they lined up and were ready to compete, supported by the cheers of the spectators for their favorites. The winners of the events received a locally crafted trophy by Bartel Machine in Leamington. The winners are as follows. Keg Roll – Murray Ridell, Slow Race – Adam Fox, Wienie Bite – Beata (Princess) St. Dennis, Needle in the Haystack - Luc & Jennie LeBelle The newly named Shovel Pit dedicated to Dean (Dino) Trombley R.I.P. Burn Out Pit winner was Dave Hodare. Bob Menard, seen here in this photo holding the
door prize donated by the Deep South-Riders Mag writers. Bob would like to say: “Let me start with a special Thanks to Vulcan Greenhouse Technology for their support and generous sponsorship. Along with numerous other sponsors and door prize donations, we were able to raise a sizeable contribution to Hospice from Bob’s Bike Games. Without the unbelievable team that we had behind us this wouldn’t be the great success that it is, so to all, a big thank you! Now for next year, how do we top the head to head burnout pit? Well, stay tuned! we have a few tricks up our sleeves that we are hoping to pull out for next year ! So with all that said thanks to all that came out and supported us and Hospice on such a great weekend, hope to see you all next year !” Hogs for Hospice is destined to be a premier event in Southern Ontario and Bob’s Biker Games achieves Rockstar status. Ride On Bernie (The Pirate) Martin There is an event upcoming in the London area and other areas around the country that I think all bikers should take a look at attending it’s the 3rd annual Child Abuse Awareness Ride, this one sponsored by the London, ON chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse. This event will be held at the Dorchester Fairgrounds August 27th, registration at 10:00 AM, this is a non-profit international organization raising awareness and empowering abused children to not be afraid of the world in which they live. I would like all of you reading this article to just take a little time, and check out BACA, either via youtube, or their international website to see what fantastic work this organization does, if you check out their website, it will give you a list of chapters in your area as well.
to ride in a large group that stays together again, I don’t have that opportunity to often. Once everyone arrived the last cards were drawn and the winners selected, Announcements were made… plaques were presented to the winners…. And yes sometimes it only comes down to a Jack and or the Queen. Also included in this run was, a cook your own Steak dinner with all the sides, best steak I have had all summer! Even though I didn’t get out for the full day, I had a great time and would like to Thank Bacchus MC Chatham for another well executed event! Just one more thing….after dinner coffee and company was Priceless! More highlights of my travels to follow for the October Issue….August is not quite done yet! Keep’in it simple, Kathy Troiani
Busy August Weekend! It started Friday Night out at the QMC Amherstburg Scoot and Shoot party, with the entertainment by Mark Chichkan, BBQ serving up burgers and dogs, and a great place to stay for the night (Thank you Gill and Judy) friends, fun and lots of giggles and grins! Thanks QMC for a great night! All fun But….yes there is a but….I was to be on the road early Saturday August 12, 2017 for the Bacchus MC Chatham Poker Run, well….I had a little spark knock…. Ok.. ok…it was a lot of spark knock… if you know what I mean and ended up starting out a lot later than I planned….lol… I missed a good part of the ride with stops in Pain Court and Sombra, but I did catch up with everyone in Thamesville at Johnny Quests. The weather was great on my way to Thamesville, some nice highway time to shake off the remainder of my self-induced spark knock. The run came in and they were soaked…yep the rain found them a few times and followed them into Thamesville…Dam! Oh well while waiting for the rain to stop again, it is was great spending some time there with everyone, and being reminded on how much I miss words of Wisdom from Ray :) Once the rain moved on, it was back to the starting point at the KBD Club Chatham! It was great being able
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LifeBehindBars by Maxx
I celebrated Canada Day with the Lincoln County Motorcycle Club at their Show and Shine in Beamsville. This event was just as expected, good BBQ and cold drinks, ‘top-shelf’ bikes on display, well organized and managed event. While I was there I met Bruce and Suzanne Bissell the founders and organizers of Biketoberfest, who told me a bit of a story about Biketoberfest. Celebrating the 15th Annual Biketoberfest Canada on September 15 & 16, held at Welland County Motorcycle Club’s facility, where they have Flat-Track and Motocross race tracks, the event and space is Biker friendly (if you earned’m wear your cuts and fly your colours), enjoy camping that weekend and plenty of food and shopping. Bruce and Suzanne recommend eating the hamburgers and sausage when you attend and spending some of your money buying from the local vendors in attendance. The reason for this event to show appreciation and thank the motorcycle community for buying tickets for the Harley Davidson Bike Raffle, that support Pathstone Mental Health for Children in Niagara. Pathstone was founded way back in 1966 when caring professionals of the Niagara community came together to reflect on the social, emotional, psychological, and educational well-being of Niagara’s children, youth, and families…and set out to make it right. In the end Biketoberfest is all about the kids…the next generation. It brings our community together at the Welland County Speedway, that was established over seventy years ago. Where a large percentage of the racers are kids that got the motorcycle ‘spark’ early on; and continued to ride into adulthood, being part of the community at Biketoberfest in support of the Pathstone Foundation….from kids to Biketoberfest. We participated in the Regulators Motorcycle Club ride for the Distress Centre Niagara’s 24 hour crisis line July 23. Its no surprise to you if you’ve ever been to one of their events - They welcomed us like royalty and fed us like family. ‘There’s No School, Like Old School,’ just say’n. After the Steak Dinner – Yup Steak! - that was served up to all the riders, I was approached by two representatives from the Welland County Motorcycle Club who were telling me about their Mustache Ride that benefits the Ride for Dad Campaign. The Welland County Motorcycle Club was founded in 1946 by a small group of motorcycling enthusiasts and called the Skyhawk Motorcycle Club – then in 1964 adopted their moniker of today, with a mission to become ‘Canada’s Favorite Motorcycle Club’. They have a long-standing history of motorcycling and are passionate promoters of Dirt Track and Speedway racing. This is the 5th Year of the Mustache Ride, that is scheduled for September 24, at the Welland County Clubhouse on Netherby Road in Welland. This ride is in support of the Niagara Ride for Dad to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer and is named ‘the Mustache Ride’ so their Club may also participate and support the Movember campaign. The Starbucks Motorcycle Coffee Ride on August 12 was fun and relaxing – other than getting the coffee jitters. We met friends we didn’t know we knew from the Southern Cruisers Riding Club Bran�ord. I really enjoyed the pace of this ride - fast enough to call it a ‘great ride’ and slow enough to take in the landscape of the back-roads, hills and winding roads. Teaming up with Starbucks was a nice choice they welcomed all of us Bikers and Riders alike. Participation House Bran�ord is a charitable organization which provides support and services to individuals in the community with a physical disability as well as individuals including seniors with chronic health concerns. Many of the individuals supported have disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord injuries and Multiple Sclerosis, and other lifelong disabilities. Since this is the ‘September Issue’ and in the world of fashion, always a very special edition that depicts the very best models showing their stuff, styling and profiling. Here a ‘September Issue’ pic. Life Behind [the] Bars; stories and pictures about important events and happenings in the Biker Community, told from the perspective of the rider behind the bars. I’m both grateful and proud to tell your stories, I welcome your ideas, suggestions and invitations for future articles. Thanks for reading and living Life Behind [the] Bars. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter: @TheRidersMagGTA Kilo
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First, it was the individual roadside jack-up – Next, it was the proliferation of dress code signs banning ‘Colours and Support’ clothing, now, it has escalated to halting a group charity fundraiser under the guise of public safety. Niagara Region Police Services, citing the many motorcycle accidents in the region as the deciding factor, has, in its superior wisdom, determined that the rise in motorcycle fatalities is due to the fault of unsafe motorcycles – Ya Right! Armed with their new-found knowledge, NRPS is blitzing motorcycle riders to undergo roadside safety checks, both individually and en masse. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is being done to certify that four-wheeled vehicles are also safe to operate on the region’s roads; despite evidence of a universally acceptance statistic that 80% of motorcycle fatalities were not the fault of the motorcycle operator. This unfounded intrusion into ordinary citizens attempting to help a local charity was unfounded, completely pointless in protecting the public interest, and was absolute bullshit simply another example of bullying a visible minority in an attempt to subdue our freedom. Fascism did not stop with the end of WW11; it’s merely being disguised by blue serge and operating under the lie ‘To Serve & Protect’. When was the last time that law enforcement stopped a wedding, a parade or a funeral procession to determine if the vehicles were safe to continue? Ahhh, like NEVER! Our culture is being slowly suffocated by the bigoted mindset of the wannabee storm troopers. Think that is an exaggerated description? Look around – news reports highlight facts of ordinary police services quietly acquiring military surplus, which begs the question . . . Why? Simply answer – to quell any attempt by the citizens to take back their freedom. Now, it appears, they are escalating the assault on our lifestyle in an attempt to eradicate our persona, including punishing cash-strapped charities. Perhaps NRPS views this as collateral damage – the cost of doing business. In this instance, the ‘innocent bystanders’ are the local charities we support. FYI – none of the motorcycles were declared unfit! My departure is close at hand . . . My personal bucket list is begging for attention . . . My mariner passions prod me to set sail . . . My bikes wait patiently . . . Soon, soon, we’ll play. The Bootiful Babs is retiring in January, 2018 – which, coincidently, will be the last time my column will appear in this publication. Many years have rolled away since my first rant appeared herein. The Mag was started to lend a voice to an underdog culture that many were unaware existed. The biker world has certainly changed with many new riders attempting to mimic the lifestyle by sporting a feeble cut. Since Son’s of Anarchy aired, the throng of imitators has trended in an almost childlike-worship fashion. But most who are dedicated to the lifestyle find little solace in the “imitation is the purest form of flattery” anecdote.
Far too often, we take for granted the things in life that bear no direct cost to ourselves but when referring to the Riders Mag – the word ‘free’ should never be confused with having no value. Since the millennium, I have been fortunate to publish my opinionated scrawls – first as an event reporter and later via this column. This is also true of the many contributors who report on the happenings within our lifestyle, issue by issue, thereby breathing life into otherwise seemingly one-dimensional event announcements. Throughout the years - this vital publication has illuminated many absurdities and injustices, which have led to some important victories and instituted meaningful changes. Probably unknown to most of you is that, many years ago, this publication photographed and published photos of many undercover Biker Enforcement Unit personnel definitely an example of pure activism; vital to exposing the discriminatory BEU practice of snapping photos at biker events. Our culture was established long before social media and the pussyfooting realities of the politically correct 21st Century. Back then, The Riders Mag was our distinct social media. Hell, IMHO it still is - regardless of what those other charlatans claim! Much like our lifestyle, the Mag has grown expeditiously and has now distinguished itself as a national publication – a major accomplishment in merely a few short years. Thanx to JR for fathering the Riders Mag . . . Critter & Al – KEEP ON, KEEPIN’ ON, ‘cuz we (the collective we) are all the better for it, Eh Ollie? Meaning no disrespect and at the risk of soundin’ like a patronizing wise-ass, I want to make a plea that is of benefit to our lifestyle and the individuals who populate it . . . If you have read this far, then you understand how important it is to convey (to your friends and acquaintances who enjoy the Riders Mag) that there is more contained within these pages than they may realize. So remind them that, in their haste to flip to the joke pages, to pause and take the time to enjoy the written content from the contributing writers who have worked hard to fill these pages with pertinent information - information that is ‘FREE’ but, nonetheless, highly valuable . . . Rooster Rider OCC&I Treasurer The Ontario Biker Black List or Rooster Rider
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Patricia & Larry Best Taken from us tragically on August 13, 2017, both at the age of 66. Daughter of the late Mary and John Kenney. Son of Betty and the late Ralph Best. After ge�ng married in 1972, they were blessed with their 2 children. A former employee of Windsor Plastics, Pat was an avid bowler and very active in the community volunteering at Hospice and the Crisis Centre. A retiree from Ford after 34 years, Larry was an avid long distance cyclist, and was involved in Kart Racing for many years. Together, they were active in the local motorcycle community and participated in many charity rides in the area. They shared a passion for life, nature, and the outdoors. GBNF..... Together Always
ADRIAN GOBEY OCT.1950 – JULY 2017
A Brother who touched the lives of everyone who knew him. He will be missed and remembered by all. Until we meet again, ride free my Brother. G.B.N.F. RIP
Mark (Fat Bastard) D’Angelo April 10, 1962 – Aug. 4, 2017 Mark was well respected in the Motorcycle Community and has produced some great looking motorcycles! I know he has won several trophies at my Show and Shines over the years! He was a good man who loved life and lived it to the fullest! He will be missed by all who knew him! ML&R GBNF RIP THE RIDERS MAG ---- PAGE 30
Another crazy month of running the roads in Nova Scotia! As I write this I am waiting to have my third tire installed this summer! Although pointed out to me by one of my brothers that its really only two tires because one was used, its still a lot of fucking miles for one season! The first big event was the Biker Bash in Amherst, NS. This year’s bash was held at the Amherst Town Square Mall after being located in Downtown Amherst for the first two years. The general consensus was that the crowds were good due in no small part to a blistering hot weekend any many commented that it was a much better location then downtown because it allowed for a more “carnival” like setup where all the vendors were easily accessible and lots of room to park the bikes. The stunt bikes were a big hit as usual at any motorcycle event. Despite a bit of rain and wind on Friday night which produced some deeply discounted items from a few vendors sales and attendance was good. Next stop was a trip to the Valley where we were hosted by members of the Wildcards (featured in last month’s article). Mike and Rosie had a wonderful meal for us and Doc and Chris opened up their home to us and sat up late in the evening talking about friends, family and the value of living the biker lifestyle. One of my main reasons was to take in the Bike Night held at Kustom Kreations. I got to meet the owner Lowell and meet some of the movers and shakers in the Valley bike community. There was approximately 125 bikes and the BBQ was run by the sisterhood of bikers the Diamond Devilz. The Diamond Devilz Sisterhood was formed in 2014. There are currently 11 full members, 1 probationary member and 4 honorary supporters. An honorary supporter is a lady that cannot ride, but has a passion for the sisterhood and has been a supporter in significant ways.
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You must be 19 years of age and own and operate your own street legal motorcycle to be a member. New members are sponsored by one or more members and must be approved by the membership to begin the probation period. During this period the new member will be assessed for riding ability and suitability to become a full member. They are a sisterhood that have a passion for riding and their main goal is to empower women riders with the confidence, skills, independence and ability to ride on their own. They help fundraise to support these charities: Ronald McDonald House Atlantic, Camp Brigadoon and Bikers Down Society and also volunteer at Ronald McDonald House in Halifax by cooking meals for the families of sick children that stay there. They have received assistance from other clubs, Devils Own, Veteran Commandos and Support Veteran Commandos, to pitch in with the purchasing process. While at the bike night there was also a very special presentation made to Yvonne Folker. Her husband Steve who was a big supporter of the Veteran Commandos recently passed and Yvonne was presented with a ladies cut from the ladies veterans side of the Commandos. On the left in the pic is Fred Ohara president of the support veterans side and Bruce Houghton president of the veteran side of the commandos On our way back from the valley Princess and I decided to take a little side trip to the Blomidon Lookoff and further on to Cape Split which is an absolutely amazing hiking trail that regularly has people plucked off the cliffs because they get too close to the edge. Like Peggy’s cove some people just don’t get the idea that its dangerous and you have to respect a basic thing like gravity. It was quite interesting to note that early the next week I saw that a group chose the Lookoff destination as well. The gathering was organized by a 2,800-member FaceBook group called Halifax Bike Life. Spokesperson Kay Ross said the concept was that the group would be welcoming to individuals riding all different breeds of bike. The site shared a few pics of the 82 bikes that showed up for that ride. Mike and Rosie came to spend the night at my place on
Friday night to pick up a supply of the Riders Mag for them to distribute in the Valley and to join us for Toadstock the next day. Due to the weather, they stayed the entire weekend and Princess and I very much enjoyed having them. There may have been a little wine, beer and whisky consumed. Toadstock, a Bikers Down sponsored event hosted by Mark at the East Wallace Biker only Campground featured in a previous article. Toadstock was just one of three events that was happening that Saturday and the rainy weather really limited my ability to get to the other two. Toadstock The board of directors at the Bikers Down Society really wanted to out of the gate thank all the people who braved the rain and committed to Toadstock. Many people laboured to move all the
equipment, merchandise, bbq, freezers, food, etc and the forecast was fine when they did it. I stood under a canopy with the Devilz for about an hour waiting for the rain to clear, but it kept pissing down, finally around 6:30 PM things began to clear and the “epic” bike games began led by George “Mucker” Roland and all the volunteers. Marlene gave an inspiring speech about why they started the society in memory of Mike “Toad” Roach and how they really needed to get back to the grassroots of the society and not be like some of the more commercial rallies that are just looking to make a buck and who are forgetting about why we ride and why we take care of fellow brothers and sisters. A special thank you to Mark of the Bikers Only East Wallace Campground and his crew of friends who I witnessed scrambling to erect a temporary shelter so that the entertainment could go on. The bathrooms were kept clean and bonfires were lit and copious amounts of alcohol were drunk! All the clubs, supporters and independents who made it including Bad Boys, Diamond
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Devilz, and their entourage, the Bikers Down Society from Cape Breton, Vicky Levy from Bikers Down Western and all the others who attended thanks for your support to an amazing organization. Juvenile Diabetes Firemens Ride The Juvenile Diabetes Ride, Organized by Leah Sutherland, who has a 21 year old daughter who has coped with diabetes growing up had a goal of $5000 to raise for this worthwhile cause Easily surpassed it despite the
supported this ride!
rainy day by raising closer to $6000! The ride began at the Scotsburn Firehall planning to drive to Tatamagouche. They made it as far as River John grabbed a few snacks and headed back because of the rainy weather. In the pic you can see Leah and Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane surrounded by supporters of the ride (photo credit to Kevin Adshade.) Defenders Poker Run The Defenders Chapter 15 out of Truro held their annual Poker Run starting at the Cat Shack (a Mag distributor). Like the other two events on that day rain was definitely a factor. As most bikers do, the fruits of their labours usually go to a very worthwhile charity, and it is the CHAMPS program that received the proceeds from this very active group. In the pic you can see Mark Osmond in the middle with a couple of his brothers out of the Ontario chapter #21 and another NS member displaying their cuts or should I say shaking a bit of mothers natures tears out of the leather. Thanks to all who
Linacy Ride The Linancy Ride for the NS Firefighters Camp Connect burn victims was a huge success! Approximately 70 bikes and riders were led by the fire trucks as kids were given rides on the bikes around the camp area. It was said that “the smiles on their faces melted even the hardest hearts. Many MC’s and RC’s supported this great cause which included the Red Knights, the Defenders, veterans, the Gatekeepers, Kate Sass, Road Dawgs, Tri County Riders, the Christian Riders Association, and more A big Thank You to Steve and Dee Stewart for making this such a big success! Finally I want to give another shout out to Rick Jollimore and Terry Rafuse for their trike build that I featured earlier in the mag. These guys really walk-the-walk! Amazing family men, volunteers and supporters of the biker community. These are the guys I know I can count and epitomize the code of conduct that makes being a biker a very special breed.
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Shit, the Sept./Oct. issue deadline is here already, but checking the odometer on the bike it should only be June! It seems that I have not even put on half of the K’s that I usually do by this time of year! Here’s hopping summer will last ‘till mid Dec. so I can catch up! The Boss & I got a phone call from Machine (BMC) inviting us to the one year anniversary of Bacchus Fredericton, which we readily accepted. It was a great ride down to the C.H. Fredericton and we were graciously received at the clubhouse and got a chance to meet up with old and new friends to share stories and beverages. Judging by the shelters, tables and bikes cramped onto the property, the party probably started at least a day before the event! The day was full force by the afternoon, complete with food & beverages, a very large 50/50 draw picked by the Boss (who almost had to stand on a ladder to reach up to the bin) and of course the bikini bike wash. I managed to catch a shot of Brittany and Moranda , the two girls washing the bikes (as I know Critter would fire me if I missed it!) I managed to corner Charlie (the “Grand Puba)” of Bacchus) and again bugged him for a support patch as I have almost all the support patches from other clubs across the Maritimes and Ontario, but he turned me down again. All things said,
the Boss and I had a great time as did everyone there and we headed out just as the band was setting up for the evening activities. Hope I get an invite for the 2 year! Thanks guys! Due to my ever tightening work list I would like to welcome and thank Dustin, a new addition to our Maritimes crew. Dustin and his girl both ride and to top it off he is also a “wrench twister” working at the
J.H. Stewart Harley Davidson shop. He will be helping me with deliveries of the Mag in the Miramichi area. Please show him the same respect that I have received in the past from our loyal distributors in the area. Now comes the hardest part that all of us writing for the Mag has to do. The end of July we got a phone call from Etobicoke informing us that a great friend & Brother, Adrian Gobey had past away. Adrian was one of the first people I met when I moved into Etobicoke and immediately became close friend & riding partners. He has finally succumbed to a very long battle with cancer. He was dearly loved by friends and family and for sure
Johnnie’s Roadhouse will never be the same without him. Bye for now my Brother, until we ride again when my time is done. G.B.N.F. Now it’s time to saddle up and spend the end of this month at the Shediac bike rally and hopefully the Bacchus (Albert County) 45 year anniversary party. Until next time, Atlantic Jeff signing off. Be well.
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Well here we are heading into what seems to be the last of the summer weather and what a crappy one it was this year. If you haven`t ridden in the rain this summer, you haven`t ridden at all. Even after checking the weather forecast, (I know it`s not an exact science but at least they could be fairly close) we headed out for an afternoon run that had us wet 3 times within a few hours while the forecast predicted nothing but sunshine. The positive side of this is that it makes it easier to clean off the bugs off your bike. In exchange, it covers the rear section and underneath with road grime…can`t win but then again…you`re riding and that alone is worthwhile. Think about the cold winter months that are coming at rocket speeds and get out there to enjoy what`s left of this weather. During my absence in July, Frost and I ended up getting some much needed wind therapy putting on just over 3000kms in 4 days. This allowed us to return to Hell, Michigan, where we locked up our commitment to each other on the bridge of locks last January on Friday the 13th. This quaint little town has a lot to offer like some of the
best chicken wings and the cheapest beer I’ve ever found. Where else can you get a pound of chicken wing sauced up with inferno sauce and two pints of beer for under $10? Yes this is not a typo, a pint of beer during happy hour only $1.25. The Hell`s Saloon provides locals and tourist with some of the best food and coldest beer as well as great live entertainment around. Be sure to like their page on Facebook to keep up with everything going on. Heck they even are distributors for a biker magazine very similar to The Rider`s Mag, it`s called The Rider Report and it classifies itself as being Michigan`s Best Free Biker Magazine! Yes it`s American money but the gas and beer is cheap so why not?
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It`s a great ride even when going through Detroit area or for the faint at heart, just run through Sarnia…you`ll get there too. The best ride is when you can afford more time to ride west to Sault St-Marie, cross over the border there and stop in Mackinaw City for a couple of days, then head south to Chelsey Michigan which has the closest motels to Hell. We are planning a return there this fall, if memory serves me right on the second or third week of September for the annual Hell`s Hearstfest (http://hearsefest.com/main.html ) where decked out retired Hearst cars parade and show off their creepiness for all to see. This will be the 16th year for this event. Looking forward to it a lot.. In Mackinaw city, if you decide to stay a couple of days, be sure to take the boat to the island as no trip is complete without spending a day there. Once there, beware of the tasty treats that await you like a real Irish coffee that Frost will confirm, kind of kicks you in the ass first thing in the morning…remember, alcohol is cheap so there is lots..;) Not a good thing to have more than two on an empty stomach…lol. There’s tons of other things to do there even though no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island; various means of transportation are available from horseback riding to a bicycle built for two. Just remember that hills are a plenty out there so best to be in better shape than me if you`re opting for the bike built for two. As well, upon your return to the mainland, book your trolley ride over the famous Mackinaw bridge at sunset which will give you some of the best sunset photo opts you`ll even see. Baconfest 2017 This was my first attendance at the annual Baconfest in Lucan, Ontario. We left the state of Michigan in early morning to get to Lucan in time for lunch where the sweet aroma of bacon was everywhere. After finding the food court and grabbing some bacon sausages with some refreshing beverages, we started looking around at all the various vendors and displays set up for all to enjoy. I must say that the lack of signage was apparent as for an activity that is situated in two different locations in town, it did take us newcomers awhile to figure out that the main part of Baconfest was actually held at the arena just a couple of blocks down the road. The reason I persisted in finding the second location is that I knew that Critter along with other members of the Rider`s Mag team were on hand distributing the greatest free biker magazine in Canada as well as my great friend John Cosentini from Motorcycle Enhancements along with the famous Panda sidecar sidekick, showing off his latest creation the Steampunk bike. What a great piece of art this is showing the awesome talent that comes out of that shop in Oakville. Great work John and the team!
It was a great event and although quite a distance for us northerners to travel to participate, if you happen to be in that area or are like me and have an unsatisfying craving for anything bacon, this event is not to be missed. Rocky`s 1st Annual Summer Melt-down This was another first for the Northern Guy as we happen to drive by London, Ontario, we noticed some commotion happening at Rocky`s Harley Davidson and decided to check it out. Once we got there, we were greeted with the option of being in the bike show or to the general parking lot. As we weren’t certain of the full schedule, we opt to just check it out for a while and keep moving. After being around the location for a while, things started to heat up with many activities to peak every biker`s interest. As mentioned there was a bike show, a bikini bike wash, nice cold refreshment in black and white Solo cups that in my opinion, really made the beer taste that much better… oh and yeah there was some orange cups too as black and orange are Harley colors. These guys really know how to put on an event with more on the agenda such as a burn out pit, some bike games, body art painting and an ice cream eating contest. The bike show and bikini bike wash were indeed this guy`s favorite events as there`s nothing finer than great looking bikes and babes, that`s why I personally have both! There was an old fashion blacksmith present also demonstrating his skills and selling some interesting pieces that were made from old motorcycle parts. I`m hoping to be able to return next year to spend more time there as this visit was simply a stop by and check it out event for me this year. As Critter as well as other members of the Rider`s Mag would confirm, there are just too many events every weekend for us to be able to attend and with all due respect, the ones I do attend are mostly coincidental drop ins or very convenient this year due to the tight time schedule I have to deal with for this season. No disrespect is ever intended to those who we don`t attend or acknowledge. As I always say, if you`re willing to send me some picts and some point form notes, I can write up something nice to make your event part of this great publication. Otherwise, due to the fact that all this work is done by everyone here at the Mag on their own time and their own dime, meaning no one gets paid for their time or their expenses, we do it for the love of the lifestyle and this awesome publication, a lot of events go by unnoticed. Well this is it for me this month, I wish everyone a great Fall season to which in my opinion is the greatest motorcycling season in Northern Ontario with the
changing of colors and the fresher mornings make me want to ride more than ever. A great friend/brother of mine sent me this edition`s quote that I`d like to share with you all: “BLOOD MAKES YOU RELATED BUT…LOYALTY MAKES YOU FAMILY!” Powassan Motorcycle Rally by brother Rebar Once again, bikers are raising money for a good cause. This event will raise money for the North Bay regional health center. Specifically for Cancer treatment equipment. Mayor Peter and wife Karen MacIsaac along with many volunteers have worked with passion to see this event through to its success. So, we fire up and ride
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Arrived safe and sound in the parking lot. Its 3:00 PM and the music sounds great. Tim Ott is the entertainment coordinator and I find out the band on stage is the J Houston Band., super good rock and blues. I missed Fridays line up of entertainment which consisted of 2 bands. Skrou and Who Made Who. Tonight’s bands will be Swamp Donkeys and then the Kiss tribute band Rock and Roll Over. Looks like a very good size crowd for another wet weekend. Cara’s Rocket Launcher is set up, along with many other vendors, and that is always a good choice for a delicious Italian style meal. I`m OK walking in mud with my biker boots on, that’s what bikers do ,so over to the beer garden we go. There`s a couple of sweet girls serving and the beer is ice cold. Now its time to stroll through the camping areas. I like these places; this is where the hardcore bikers sleep in tents. The rainy weather will not dampen the spirits of these weekend warriors. Most bikers are here from Southern Ontario. They all remember attending the Bikers Reunion in the try towns .All who I talk to are pleased to have this event move closer south. Good times chatting with many bikers, many that I know and others who I just met, Like the Haliburton Highlanders. This event will continue with the traditional cancer run. The ride will be led by Shannon Aku and Ryan Evens from the show Counting Cars. They will travel Highway 654 to Callander Bay Drive, then north onto Lake shore drive through North Bay and back South on Highway 11. Very nice roads to tour on in this area, I would recommend that you all check it out if you get a chance. It’s also worthwhile mentioning that the local Lions club put on a great breakfast for all at no set price (donation accepted). Bikers Battling Cancer Inc. has put on an excellent event and it was well worth the ride in the rain . Until the next time, love you all Brother Rebar
Highway 17 East to North Bay, then South on 11 to Powassan. Rain is on and off and heavy at some times, we hydroplane across the wheel ruts of Sudbury roads. Then back onto decent pavement outside of the City limits.
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This time every year I have to stop myself from focusing on the fact that the days are getting shorter and the nights a little cooler but this time was a little harder to deal with because of the abnormal amounts of rain that riders in eastern Ontario had to deal with and record setting rain also influenced the participation of many rides and events that have taken place so far. So many events this Summer started out with the threat of rain or thunderstorms but luckily for a number of them the skies cleared later in the day and riders rolled in because half a good time is better than none at all. One of the largest events that I had the pleasure to participate in was the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Outlaws MC Ottawa Chapter and it was no secret that the members had worked hard for months to plan and prepare for this party including getting their facility all ready to welcome for members not only from Canada but from the U.S. and Europe as well and they did an awesome job. When I got up in the morning it was pouring rain and I decided to wait and see how the weather was a little later and sure enough at some point the rain stopped and the skies cleared. I was also encouraged by a number of text messages asking if I was on my way out. Now 40 yrs is an impressive milestone but it also makes you shake your head at how fast time goes by especially when you remember the 1st anniversary years ago. By the time we arrived the party was well on its way and as we past the cooking area we could see at least three large pigs being cooked on spits by professionals who had everything under control and not far from there was the main events area. My compliments to the club for the layout of the grounds including a very professional looking stage for the bands and entertainment and the whole grounds surrounded by lots of shaded areas that so that their guests could find some relief from the sun or rain. As I mentioned earlier there were members of the AOA from all over joining in this celebration including some members I spotted from Switzerland and along with them were patches from a dozen other clubs who came to party and pay their respects. Throughout the afternoon “Fonzy” was on the stage acting as emcee handing out prizes or awards to people between the musical entertainment and just to the left of the stage area was our good friend “Taz” with his iconic food truck aptly named “Beef Boyz” to provide food
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on their rodeos that they have become famous for. All the riders who participated were treated to a free breakfast courtesy of and served by TCB and later after the ride was finished lunch was thanks to the generosity of Marcel & Linda Moncion of Moncions Independent Grocers who are Harley riders themselves and strong supporters of our Ottawa and area motorcycle community.
to hungry bikers through the day before the pig roast dinner. At one point I took a pic of Taz talking to Snax and damn if they didn’t look like they were brothers. For the next couple of hours I just wandered around taking pictures and moving from one brothers hug or handshake to another which really made my day and especially the fact there were a large number of old friends, many where we go back over 50 years and believe me the older the friends the sweeter the hugs! I wish I could have stayed much later into the evening but the high humidity and all my stomping around took its toll. We had a great time and really appreciated the opportunity to be part of the 40th anniversary. Special thanks to Fonzy, Snax & Johnny Muffler!
The Celtic Brotherhood held their annual Awareness Ride For Brain Injury and it was a success all the way around with the ride starting off at B.A. Machine Performance Cycle thanks to owners Peri & Tim Poirier and the ride ended at the Greely Legion which also provided the area for Hillbilly and the Capital City Bikers Church Crew to put
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Much thanks to brothers Duane Chevalier and Tom Sarazin along with other members of the Simple Men MC from Snake River who showed their brotherhood by donating their time to help with the manpower issues of things such as traffic blockers etc and as well to a number of other people who got in the spirit of brotherhood and helped the club to have their event go off without any major hitches. This event allowed TCB to help promote some of the causes that they are active in which included having Wendy Charbonneau from the OBIA Ottawa Brain Injury Association set up a table there to give out information on brain injury and programs to help those touched by and at the same time to let the members of the motorcycle community know that this organization exists in case someone they know might benefit from contacting her or getting further information. Our ambassador from the “A Chance Animal Rescue Inc”, the mighty Quinn made an appearance to win over everyone with a wag of his tail and huge smile of his and he was kind enough to bring the lovely Martha Russell and Bonnie with him as well. It never gets boring watching how quickly Quinn has a fan club of bikers
surrounding him all eager to rub that big head of his. I often comment on how there is a special bond between bikers and dogs maybe because they both love the wind in the face. Later in the afternoon just before it was time to give out the prizes and awards there was a demonstration on the Busted Bucket Challenge and some of the audience were kind enough to put on the special optics that simulate some of the symptoms of head concussion and brain injury and they tried to navigate a course of pylons while struggling with the effects of the eyewear and demonstrating to the crowd how concussion can cause many problems. Some of those riders included our good friends, Hillbilly, Thor (Tom Allain) and Grinder (Mike Maloney) who also created TCB’s Gratitude of Service Award Trophy which the TCB will honor clubs, members and organizations that they feel are a positive influence on our biker community. Between breakfast and lunch there were about 500 plus people fed and that could have never happened as smoothly as it did without the help of folks who volunteered and without whose help this event could never have happened. Special thanks to sponsors like Boss Auto, Zelikovitz Leather, New Moon Tattoo, Barnstormer Tattoo just to mention a few for all the prizes etc that were donated to give out which included a silver skull ring donated by Elias Zidan of Noura’s Jewellery who does club rings including that of TCB. The Celtic Brotherhood wanted to thank all the clubs and Independent riders who came to support their Awareness Ride for Brain Injury and to let everyone know that they are already working hard on next year’s event and plan to provide some new attractions and events for the after party! On my list of ‘must go to’ events is Ottawa’s Ride for Autism which now is into its 5th year this past July. This ride has undergone a number of changes over the years including a number of different starting locations and it looks like they have found a permanent home in the Stittsville area of Ottawa’s west end located on the premises of Brown’s Independent Grocer. This year the overcast skies threatened rain but that didn’t discourage many area riders who decided to come out and show their support and by the time they returned and the skies had finally cleared and the sun came out. Autism touches so many families including my own and yet the general public know so little about this condition but if the cause wasn’t enough on its own to get you out participating then the ride route and entertainment and events following would be. As in previous years the Mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson came out to show his support and this year the riders once again were also treated to a speech by a very charming young girl with autism who thanked the riders for coming out. The applause from the riders showed their appreciation for her kind words. The Ride for Autism is the creation of an Ottawa area rider Dave Kuhnle along with his wife, Noella who have two granddaughters with autism and one of the fundamental purposes of this event is to promote and provide funds for the ‘Quickstart’ program which allows children who are autistic to be identified at an early age so they can start receiving the educational assistance needed for them to be active in their family life but also in the community they live in. As in previous years members of The Celtic Brotherhood and family members and many others have volunteered their time to help make
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weekend is the Snake River Rodeo where I intend to be for the weekend and I hope that many of you will come up and participate in this event because the Simple Men MC can be seen all summer supporting other rides and events and I must mention their new grounds are awesome for the rodeo and the evening party. On Saturday and Sunday The Celtic Brotherhood will serve a free breakfast and there will be a couple of demonstrations of the Busted Bucket Challenge and we are bringing our updated “Honey I’m Home” for the rodeo and our Dump Machine to add to the fun. So I expect to see lots of new faces up there in Snake River this year. There is also a ride and show and shine in Carleton Place on Sept 9th hosted by Johnny Racine and Canadian Gears for PTSD and as I am a long time PTSD Survivor myself I hope to make it out for at least part of the event to show support. On September 23rd Scott Towaij and members of the Bondslave MC will be having their Fall Color Run and you can find the info from the ad which should be near my column you are reading. They are a new club to Eastern Ontario and I hope you all will get out and
this event become a must to participate in and also like in previous years members of the Ottawa Chapter of B.A.C.A (Bikers Against Child Abuse) came out in large numbers to show their support for this ride because if it has anything to do with children in any way then this organization makes sure that at least some of their membership will attend to show solidarity.
One of the things I enjoy about the after ride events for the Autism Ride is their auctions and make no mistake about it Dave busts his butt to get around and find sponsors who donate some great items to auction and one of the big items every year are the Ottawa Senators sports memorabilia including box seat tickets to many of the games. As in previous years there has been some televisions and golfing items that are also a big hit with the crowd and just watching the bidding is entertainment on it’s own. I want to remind everyone that the Labor Day
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make them welcome. Sunday September 24 is the 5th Annual Greely Swap Meet held at the Greely Legion and you will see their ad near my column as well. Sept 30th is the Burn Out Boys End of Year Party and members of BOB have been present at just about every event I have been to this summer and if you like doing or watching burnouts then this is the event to find yourself at and October 14th is the Capital City Bikers Church Color Ride. As always I remind you to please support events and rides that are created and run by area riders and their clubs because these are the same folks that come to your events and rides. Also if you have an event or a ride or you are a business that deals with either motorcycles or the people who ride them, you might like to advertise or become a distributor for “The Riders Mag” and if so please contact me by email or phone. And as always I want you to remember ... We make our motorcycle communities stronger! By making them better! Email: theridersmag.beau@ gmail.com Follow me on Twitter: Riders Mag East h tt p : / / t w i t e r. c o m / motorcyco_beau Instagram:TheRidersMag Read The Riders Mag Online: http://theridersmag.com/online Brotherhood! Motorcyco Beau!
Well I’m back again so I guess my last column was good. I have a correction to make from my last column I referred to the Independent Riders as the Independent Ones and I apologize for the mix up guys. I’m glad I had a few weeks off cause I had a few issues with my bike (Sophia is her name), the holder for my wheelchair had a few cracks in it but thanks to my bro Rob Foster (TIG) and Wally from Motor Coach Canada ( I think that’s the company) for getting it welded up oh and Terry Moe for letting me use her garage. Then I hit a pothole in some construction and had to get my heim join (little plastic piece under my bike) replaced and the rear fender fixed (no major damage though) but all will be fixed by the time this issue comes out. Ok now onto the rest of my column. REGULATORS MC POKER RUN The whole week the weatherman was calling for a shit load of rain ( just like we have been getting all season it seems) BUT as the week progressed the chance of rain diminished so I headed out to Niagara Falls for the Regulators Mc Poker Run On July 23rd. I arrived at the CH on Stanley Avenue at around 10 a.m. And met up with one of my fellow writers, Maxx Kochar and his crew from the Predators MC out of Toronto. After saying hi to them and others that I knew I got registered and headed inside the house for the delicious breakfast that they had prepared for the attendees of the poker run. This poker run was a bit different as we all broke off into separate groups instead of one big group for the ride so after I ate I went out with a small group to the first stop ( sorry I didn’t get the names of the other riders in the group). The first stop was in Welland at Bada Bing’s to draw our second card for the run. My friend Angie Lebreche went into draw my first card as the venue was hard to get into for a wheelchair (thanks again for helping me Angie). I snapped a few pictures and talked with Maxx and his crew and other riders as the showed up. My bro Mark Watson President of the Iron Disciples M/M and his wife Paula just happened to ride by as they live across the street so they stopped in to say hello before heading back out. The rest of us headed out to the next stop on the poker run over to Ace’s in Dunnville to draw my next card and caught up with Maxx and the bro’s from the Predators again and took more pictures and mingled with this one and that one before heading off again. I headed out with a larger group this time to the next
stop which was at Bridge 12 in Port Robinson. We rode along Lake Erie back through Dunnville, than Wainfleet than down the 140 and into Port Robinson ( oh with a stop at Timmies on the way of course and I was with The Predators and the Remnants on this leg of the ride). We arrived in Port Robinson drew our cards hung out and shot the shit for a bit than headed to the last stop at Bj’s in Chippewa where the ride ended and the party began. The rain that was forecasted started to come down and hard at times but it really didn’t scare anyone away and everyone was having a blast. Chico and his band cranked out the tunes and a steak dinner was being served (again by the Regulators MC) as part of the ride. The Charity for the poker run was the Distress Centre Of Niagara. They are a 24 hour telephone service with
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trained volunteers to help people in crisis situations (i.e. Mental illness). After partying for a while I said my goodbye’s and headed back to Hamilton. I wasn’t able to get the winners of the poker run but the ride did raise $4100.00 for the Distress Centre so I think everybody was a winner on this day. Thank you to Bobby, Mike and the rest of the Regulators MC for having me on this ride. CORSA MOTOCICLETTA BIKE NIGHT This season seems to be the season for New Bike
Nights and Burlington has one of them. This bike night is held at Corsa Motocicletta ( every other Wednesday). Corsa Motocicletta is a new motorcycle shop ( not a full service shop though just clothing and accessories) owned by Mike ( sorry I didn’t get his last name) and it has been open for just over and year and a half now. Like the rest of the season has been there was a threat of showers and thunderstorms but I grabbed my camera and note pad and headed to Burlington for the night. Before heading to bike night I went to pick up my friend Sue Kojic and we headed over to Appleby Crossing (the mall the shop is in) to check this new bike night out. We arrived at 6 P.M. And the weather was holding off so
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far and the bikes were rolling in. I parked Sophia grabbed my camera and started taking pictures and of course I had to get something to eat they were serving hotdogs and drinks and there’s a Fish and Chip Store two doors down that had a special on also for bike night. Sue and I met up with Mike and talked with him for a bit as this was the first time both of us had been to his store and bike night. John A. Robb Photography was there taking pictures of the riders of their bikes and everyone was mingling and having a good time on this nice night. I ran into my buddy Wayne Bott and he was riding his Dukes of Hazzard themed bike. There was also a 500 CC Java on display outside which caught the eye of the attendees. This bike could go from 0-100 in 3 seconds and it had No Brakes And No Gears on it either. The proceeds from the food sales ( which is minimum a dollar) went to Halton Women’s Place a safe haven, information and education to support a future without abuse for women and their children. The clouds started to roll in and the rain that was forecasted came down so everyone headed for home or other shelter. Corsa Motocicletta is located at 2301 Appleby Line so if you are ever in the area or live in the area check this bike night out. 2ND ANNUAL HOGS FOR HOSPICE I wasn’t planning on attending this rally but my friend Sue Kojic called me and asked if I wanted to help her at her booth for the weekend as she was a vendor (Canadian Biker Community....check it out on facebook) so I decided to tag along and I’m glad I did. I decided to leave Sophia at home and go in Sue’s van instead as they were calling for severe weather on the way there ( apparently I won an award for best excuse NOT to take my bike for the weekend according to Critter lol...well I’ll take that award proudly lol). As we hit London (where we stopped for gas) it had become clear to me as to why I left my bike at home as the rain started coming down and it was torrential at times so I’m glad I decided to leave my bike at home. We arrived at Seacliff Park in Leamington at 3:20 P.M. and were guided to our spot by Donnie and some of the volunteers of the rally. We started to set up the booth with the shirts, stickers and other stuff that Sue was selling and after helping her get set up I wandered around the park checking it out and seeing who the other vendors were. As I made my rounds of the park I saw Deborah and her husband from Bling Your Things so I stopped to chat with them a bit while they got their booth set up. I also met and chatted with Anvil and some of his Brothers from the Hells Angels Windsor Chapter and The Horsemen Mc From Ridegtown ( thanks again for the stickers bro). It was a windy day by the lake but the rest of the weekend was beautiful. Later that night (Friday night) I met up with Keven Ellis and his crew the North Wall Riders Association (Steel City Chapter) they had a few issues on the road so they were a bit behind but made it safe. Hogs For Hospice has 2 Concerts to keep the attendees
of the rally entertained and the Friday nights band was Hairball, they were belting out 80’s and 90’s rock tunes for the crowd. It was their first time in Canada as they usually play Daytona and Sturgis Bike Weeks. After the concert Sue and I tore down the tent and headed to bed for the night at Hotel Chev (her van) as that is where we staying for the weekend. The next morning started at 7 A.M. And we headed into town to grab something to eat than back to the park to get set up for the day.
Day 2 was the day for the Charity Ride led by the North Wall Riders Association Steel City and Windsor Chapters. The Diplomates Drum and Bugle Corps from Windsor put on the opening ceremonies and then it was time for the ride. The ride started at Seacliff Park and went to Point Peelee and at last count there were 1,014 bikes in this years ride. After the ride left I took the opportunity to head around the park and buy some t-shirts and talk with people along the way. I needed some new gloves as mine were about done from over use so Sue found some at another vendor and he wanted $15.00 for a pair of half gloves and when Sue tried to make a deal with the guy he abruptly said “NO DEAL” with other customers in his booth. They left after that and needless to say he didn’t have very many after that the rest of the weekend. The band for the Saturday night was Our Lady Peace and they entertained the crowd of 5,000 people for the night. Day 3 was the last day of the rally and after getting the booth set up I headed down to the Concert Pavilion ( which was just being built actually the whole park was brand new as they had a tornado go through in 2010) for the church service which was put on by one of the local ministries in
Thanks to all the volunteers at Hogs for Hospice see you next year and I’ll have my bike this time and I’ll be staying in a hotel too. Clare’s Bike Night (Niagara On The Lake) This is the third time I have attended Clare’s Bike Night in Niagara on the lake this season. Of course just like the rest of the season there was that threat of rain but I headed out and picked up Sue Kojic and headed down the highway to Clare’s for bike night as she had to pick her helmet up from Deborah from Bling Your Things after ge�ng it blinged out. We arrived at Clare’s at 6:30 and attendance was down a bit from previous bike nights but that was probably due to the threatening skies and forecasts. Each week there is a different club is raising money for a charity and this week the NBS Riders were raising money for their charity Jace Wars, Jace Wars which is a charity for a little boy named Jace who was diagnosed with a brain tumor on February 5th 2011 but it was removed and he made a full recovery. Scouts Canada were in charge of serving up the food
Leamington. After the service I headed over to the field where Bob’s Biker Games put on by Bob Menard were taking place and Erin was the announcer for them. There was also a stunt show put on by Jason Thorne. After the stunt show and games we said our goodbyes, tore the tent down and headed for home with a stop in London for dinner at Chuck’s Roadhouse...If you haven’t been here I highly recommend it awesome food and service.
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for the evening and they were cooking Hot dogs and Hamburgers for the hungry attendees. Before I headed over to get my food I ran into Bad Bob and he was telling me that he had a bit of a stroke a while back but he was doing better now. As I went over to grab some food I ran into my buddy aka “Dad” (that’s an inside joke) and his new lady ( I forget her name) so I sat with them and had
my dinner before wandering around talking with this one and that one and taking pictures. Soul Deep were belting out the tunes and keeping the crowd entertained. HITZ FM had a raffle going on at their tent for a 2017 Sportster and Bruce and his crew from Biketoberfest were selling tickets for their bike raffle at this year’s Biketoberfest. The clouds started rolling in so Sue and I decided to head for home before it started to rain, If you haven’t been to a bike night at Clare’s check it out the last one for the season
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is coming up August 31st. Ok I’m almost finished with my column for this month but I would like to address something before I go. It seems this season and over the last few seasons actually there has been a lot of bikes going down. I would even call it an EPIDEMIC THIS SEASON. We are now at the end of August (it will be September when this comes out) and it seems a bike is going down Every Week.... Sometimes A Few A Week. Recently we lost Donald Pidgeon “Donnie” on July 7 due to a Motorcycle accident but it wasn’t just a bike accident it was caused by an inflated air mattress that had fallen off the back of a pickup truck cause it wasn’t secured properly. Donnie was a husband, father, uncle friend and brother and he will be missed by all who knew him. A lot of the accidents that involve motorcycles (not all of them) are caused by Cagers Turning Left In Front Of Us Or Not Seeing Us And Even Drunk Drivers. Recently at a charity ride that took place out of Tons Of Bike Gear the Niagara Regional Police were in attendance instead of intermingling with the Riders who were there and trying to figure out why this is happening and to bring “AWARENESS” TO THIS PROBLEM. That would be productive but instead they were STOPPING BIKES ( 20 were stopped and some multiple times during the day) and the cops were checking for handle bars, helmets, exhausts, and license plates.... REALLY!!??...THIS ISN’T BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE SITUATION BUT A TACTIC TO HARRASS BIKERS AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE WE ARE THE PROBLEM.
I’m not saying all riders are safe riders cause they aren’t (i.e the recent “motorcycle mob” in Toronto where a group of so called “bikers” (not bikers but idiots) were riding unsafe and at some points stopping on the highway and blocking traffic, doing stunts and burnouts and the cops were actually WATCHING THIS HAPPEN WITH NO CONSEQUENCES BUT YET THEY PULL OVER 20 RIDERS AT A CHARITY EVENT....SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. Riding just like driving is a PRIVILEDGE NOT A RIGHT just like driving so to all my riding friends please ride safe the rest of the season and watch out for the Cagers cause they aren’t watching for us.
Atlantic Host Hotel Zelikovitz Leathers 1160 Heron Rd. & Convention Ottawa, Ont. Centre 1450 Vanier Blvd. (exit 310) Bathurst, NB E2A 7B7 506-548-3335
Paysan Family Restaurant
4520 Rue Principale, Saint-Antoine NB E4V 1R1 506-525-2464
Carter’s Customs
219 Sweeney Lane Miramichi, N.B. E1V 3A6 506-251-0291
Jack’s Oasis
447 King George Hwy. Miramichi N.B. G1V 1L8 506-836-2845
J.H. Stewart Ltd
Harley-Davidson®, Honda, Suzuki Sales & Service 564 Water St. Miramichi 506-622-3405
Miramichi Motorsports
8 Gordon Rd. Miramichi, N.B. E1N 3A5 506-773-9565
Dannys Bar And Grill
7684 Rt. 116 Bass River, N.B. E4T 1L9 506-785-6660
613-727-8804 www.zelikovitz.com
Union Street Bar 7 Union St., Smiths Falls Ont. 613-205-1632
Players Sport Bar
140 Lombard St. Smiths Falls, Ont 613-283-8886 www.playerssportbar.ca
Milano Pizzeria 14 Main St. E. Smiths Falls Ont 613-283-3333
B.A. Machine
7174 Bank St. Metcalfe, Ont. www.bamachine.ca 613-821-9090
Rideau Winery
22 Russell St. E. Smiths Falls, Ont. 613-205-1500 therideauwinery.net
Meetz Small Engines 427 Albert St. Waterloo, Ont www.meetz.ca 519-885-3860
RNR Custom Cycle
108 Beaumont Cres. Guelph, Ont. www.rnrcustomcycle.com 519-821-8666
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NCK Cycle Salvage
Len’s Automotive
PD Restoration
Hastings Starter Alternator
125 Main St. Woodstock,Ont. www.nckcycle.com 519-533-5177
Classy Chassis
1399 8th Line of Smith Lakefield. Ont. www.usedhd.ca 888-292-8305
Recycled Gear
16 Pigeon Lake Rd. Lindsay Ont. K9V 4R6 www.recycledgear.ca 705-320-7777
Authentic Custom Cycle
310 Main St., North Markham, Ont. L3P 1Z1 www.authenticltd.com 905-471-3021
Eagle Eye Custom Cycles
1501 Hopkins St. Whitby Ont. L1N 2C2
eagleeyecustomcycles.com
905-665-7400
Spoiled Sports Motorcycles
1898 Baseline Rd. W. Bowmanville Ont. L1C 3K3 www.spoiledsports.com 905-436-6487
Malicious Cycle and Clothing
3595 St. Clair Ave. East Scarborough, Ont. M1K 1L8 maliciouscycleshop.com 416-666-5827
Black Gold Leather 12278 Gorham St #2 Newmarket, Ont. 416-804-2292
Mario’s Bake Shop
13305 Hwy 27 Nobelton, Ont. www.mariosbakeshop.ca 905-859-2253
K&P Auto & Marine Electric
160 Pony Dr. #8 Newmarket Ont.L3Y 7B6 www.kpautoelectric.com 905-895-5832
Aviation MotorSports
848 Lakeshore Rd. East Mississauga, Ont.L5E1E1 aviationmotorcycle.com 416-477-7089
Leather Unlimited 1981 Boylen Rd. #10 Mississauga, Ont. 905-671-0037
Lord’s Ink
4192 Perkins Road, London, Ont. www.pdrestoration.ca 519-652-6200
Action Trailers
4728 Egremont Dr. Strathroy, Ont. www.actiontrailers.ca 519-245-8802
Hog Town Cycles
164 Main Street, Lucan, Ont. www.hogtowncycles.ca 519-227-1331
DG Custom Cycle
51999 College Line Aylmer Ont. www.dgcustomcycle.com 519-773-3735
2002 Main St Jarvis, Ont. N0A 1J0 www.lensauto.ca 519-587-5041
19 King St E Hagersville, Ont. www.hastingsstarter.ca 905-768-7688
The Back 40
7 Cayuga St N Cayuga, Ont. N0A 1E0 theback40cayuga.ca 905-772-7275
On The Fringe Leather Destination 13 225 Main St Port Dover Ont. 519-583-0023
Kreative Khaos Tattoo
Wighty’s Repairs
300 Colbourne St Brantford, Ont. N3S 3M9 www.kreativekhaos.com 519-758-8242
Whip’s Performance Cycle
Duke’s Harley-Davidson®
Hwy 8, 122 Huron Rd. Mitchell Ont. wightysrepairs.com 519-384-0404
535 Vidal St. S, #3 Sarnia Ont.
whipsperformancecycle.ca
519-339-0003
Tiny’s Ltd.
5 Classic Car Drive Blenheim, Ont N0P 1A0 www.dukeshd.com 519-354-0650
Leather King
9699 Jane Street #18 Vaughan Ont. L6A 3X5 www.lordsinktattoo.com 416-855-2600
184 Carnegie St. Ingersoll Ont. www.tinysingersoll.com 519-425-0033
2822 Howard Rd. Windsor, Ont. N8X 3Y2 www.leatherking.ca 519-254-8331
Terez Leather
Scotty’s Cycle Shoppe
Colchester Bar & Grill
3333 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Etobicoke, Ont. 416-255-1976 www.terezleather.com
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133 Head Street South Strathroy Ont. scottyscycleshoppe.ca 519-245-4205
67 County Rd. 50 W. Harrow Ont. N0R 1G0 519-738-6198
A.M.P. Cycle
1221 Sundowner Rd. Midland Ont. L4R 4K4 www.ampcycle.ca 705-526-7500
Hawg Worx
9 Ferndale Dr. North Barrie Ont. L4N 9V3 705-503-5343
Tar’d and Feather’d Bar
358 Bay St. Beaverton, Ont www.tardandfeatherd.ca 705-426-9464
Fred Hale Motors & Strictly V-Twin Inc. 29945 Highway 48 Pefferlaw, Ont. www.strictlyvtwin.com 705-437-2291
Sprucedale Hotel
2502 On-518 Sprucedale Ont. P0A 1Y0 sprucedalehotel.com 705-685-1260
Hips Cycle
900 Colborne St E. Brantford 519-756-6218 www.hipscycle.ca
The S-Bend Family Restaurant 5801 Hwy. 3 Sherkston, Ont. www.sbend.ca 905-894-4072
Kosmic Arts
Quinns Custom Motorcycles 22 Hellems Ave Welland, Ont. 289-820-7954
Triple K Upholstry 432 Pearson Rd Welland, Ont. triplekupholstery.com 905-735-7216
480 Guelph Line Burlington, Ont 905-333-3282
Motorcycle Enhancements
20 Riordon St #2. St. Catharines, Ont 905-684-6790
427 Speers Rd., Unit 9 Oakville, Ont 905-842-2123
D.A.M. Enterprises
Wolf’s Den Motorcycles Corp.
76 Ridley Rd. Unit #2 St Catharines, Ont. 905-688-1386 donshdoilchange.com
Task Performance
7616 Mud Street Grassie Ont. www.taskperformance. ca 905-945-5372
Tons of Bike Gear 4179 RR.20 Saint Anns Ont. tonsofbikegear.com 905-386-0377
Thirsty Cactus 2 King St. East Dundas Ont. thirstycactus.ca 905-627-8488
Bridge 12 Pub & Eatery
10 River Rd. Port Robinson, Ont 905-384-1967
Franks Magic Crops
A.L. Choppers
1119 Main St. E. Hamilton, Ont www.alchoppers.com 905-545-5139
Metal N Ink Tattoo Studio
189 King St. E. Hamilton, Ont. www.metal-n-ink.ca 905-524-1745
(Repair & Service) Wolf Manion Hamilton, ON 905-906-9653
The Dam Pub
53 Bruce St. S Thornbury Ont. N0H 2P0 www.thedampub.ca 519-599-2110
I’m Sooooooo Bad
110 Main st. Mount Forest Ont. 519-323-9969
Smiley &Co.
2549 6th Concession Ripley Ont. N0G 2R0 519-832-7232
Tiny’s Cycle Shop
5026 Hwy. 21 RR#1 Port Elgin Ont. www.tinyscycleshop.com 519-832-1612
J& R Cycle
Leather Works Plus
8166 Hwy 26 Stayner, Ont www.JandRcycle.ca 705-429-3822
Trixie’s Saloon
149 Lorne St. Sudbury, Ont. www.leatherworksplus. com 705-674-5757
520 Louisa St. Ayton, Ont www.trixiessaloon.com 519-665-7595
Signatures Restaurant
Trails End Lodge
The Beausejour Inn & Restaurant
60 Elgin St. Tobermory, Ontario N0H 2R0 Phone: Summer {April-Oct) 519-5962249 Cell: year round 416-876-3452 www.trailsendlodge.org
Lavigne Tavern
S&A Motorcycle Dyno
3702 Hwy 144 Chelmsford, Ont www.signaturesrestaurant.ca 705-855-9021 1527 On-64 #1, Alban Ont. www.thebeauinn.com 705-857-2193
10521 Hwy 64 Lavigne, Ont. www.Lavignetavern.com 705-594-2301
Stonewall, MB 204-513-0561
WANT TO BE LISTED ON THE BIKER FRIENDLY BUSINESS PAGES? GIVE US A CALL 1-855-873-6680 AND TALK TO EXT 3 THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 53
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Only One Motorcycle in Iceland!!?? That’s right, in two days of travelling from the airport city to the capital and back, we only saw one bike! It was a 650 Suzuki, by the way. We did make it to the Polar Ice Cap in Greenland, as I mentioned we would in February’s article. The only bikes there were quads and snowmobiles (no big surprise). It’s about 80% covered with glaciers there! We went on a spectacular musk ox/arctic hare/reindeer/Russell Glacier tour not far from Kangerlussuaq and it was awesome. The fabulous scenery reminds me of how the Bible says God put all nature together “...so that all people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this” Isaiah 41:20,21). It took 10,000 years for the glacier to melt back 30km from town but only in the last 10 years have they been able to see the mountain behind this glacier in the picture, due to faster melting. I had to check this out for myself and my conclusion is: we’re in deep shite with our environment. I am disappointed about the arguing over how we can be good Ride safe out there and God bless you with peace, stewards of our planet and still have a good standard of living but I have good news after all. God is still in control love/friendship and safety. of the big picture. In religious terms we say that He is Pastor Ken k e n a n g @ c o g e c o . c a sovereign and has promised to take care of us who believe 905-870-8584 in Him. The rainbow actually stands for His promise that hamiltonbikerschurch.com He will not ever let planet Earth be completely covered with water again like in the flood of Noah’s time. Meanwhile, back in nice warm Ontario, I remember that God has also given us free will to make up our own minds on who to trust in and what good to do for our own society. I have enjoyed some charity rides and plan to ride in some more before the season is waning. Some of us still have some serious choices to make about God. You’ve seen His work in the beauty of nature and the gospel message is that “While we were still (spiritually) helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” and “God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6 & 8). I dare you to read the whole message in Romans five in a Bible. Now that you’ve heard this message (again?) you have the right and responsibility to respond by acknowledging our sovereign King of the Universe so here’s a little help... Just talk to God like this: “Our Father, I do believe that you created the universe and control the b i g picture in a way that I don’t really understand. I also believe that you raised Your Son Jesus from the dead on the first Easter and I want to be an adopted member of Your family. Please give me the faith to carry on and to know that You will also make a difference in the path of my life. Thank you for watching over me on the road on my two wheels. Amen.”
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What a month for vacations and riding, August is truly the traveling month (for me anyhow). That time of year where most of us working class get a chance to do just that, get out and ride. This year, plans were set for a ride to the East Coast. I made the big push at work for three weeks’ vacation, I had em, I earned em, it was time to take em. At least that is what I was telling myself and a bit to my surprise, I was allowed to book Three weeks off. The bike was serviced and ready. The gear was packed and as many arrangements as could be made were complete. Then the phone call we all dread came. A long time riding friend called to inform us that his wife had been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and it was not looking good. No questions asked, this was my new priority. A few more phone calls, our date’s n times reset with a new itinerary established. It looked like I would have enough time to head south first to meet up with some friends and still have time to get to my buddies place to fit in some visiting between Dr.’s appointments and treatments. So, with Colorado as the first destination and no particular route in mind, it was off to Milk River and the Coutts border crossing (pic: share the road) and into the US.
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Now I’m not sure how many have had the privilege of riding in the North Western US, but man it is just beautiful riding. As I did have a few days to spend in the south, the touring began. Montana was the first with amazing roads, friendly people and excellent weather. Next state, Wyoming with its fresh air and wide open skies. Through Sheridan and onto Riverside for some camping with some friends from New York. From here, it was down to Colorado via Highway 130 through the Medicine Bow National Forest, Laramie and Fort Collins. I can’t say enough about the scenery in this part of the world. Unfortunately by now, time was running out and it was time to head back North to Canada via Vancouver. With a short stop on the West Coast, it was into the smoky British Columbia Interior to Westbank to visit with my good friends the Jacksons. Now here is a riding family that has been hit hard by this ugly disease we call Cancer. Our time and visit was precious and personal as time seems to be running out for Donna. As we visited and reflected on so many good times and rides, my dedication to supporting all of those cancer charity rides really came into focus. The reason we were here was to support good friends, show them that we care, and want to continue to take part in their journey. So for the little time we were allowed to visit, we made sure to pass on as much love and caring as a lifetime of friendship so deserved. Donna Jackson, please keep up the fight, we will always be with you. With these thoughts, we headed home to Alberta. It was time to check out everything we had missed. As usual, too much to list but with honorable mention, Jaxons Ride. Now here is an example of people coming together to bring awareness to a cause and some support to a lo-
cal stricken family. Meet Jaxon Stromberg of Edmonton. This young guy suffers from ROHHAD Syndrome (Rapid-onset obesity with Hypothalamic, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregulation). Although I could not attend, enough people showed up to make this little guys dreams come true (pic: Jaxon on trike) and for me, that’s what it is about. Keep up the fight Jaxon, I will be doing my best to attend next season with a big thank you to those that continue to donate their time and attention to those who are less fortunate and in need of support.
Now back to more of Momma’s Motorcycle Adventures from the South end of the province. KANUCKLEHEADS SUMMER NITRO POKER RUN I started out meeting up with the Kanuckleheads at State and Main Bar in Medicine Hat for their Summer Nitro Poker run. State and Main provided a hot breakfast to start the day off. 36 bikes headed out for the day with stops in Tilley, Duchess, Patricia and ended at the Drag strip for the Nitro Cars (included in the price of the poker hand). Len Lloyd and some of his fellow “Support Veteran Paratroopers” were among the riders. With the Kanuckleheads giving 100% back to the riders Jeff Eldie walked way with a cool $400.00 for the best poker hand.
developmental disabilities are accepted and valued as members of their community. In June of 1954 a group of parents and interested persons organized The Council for Retarded Children for Medicine Hat and district. The name of the organization has changed several times over the years but today it is simply known as CORE Association. In 2003 Gary McLeod started the “Ride Day for CORE” because he wanted to help the Association provide for their growing number of clients. In 2012 Daniel Magee a member of the United Motorcycle Club U.M.C.I here in Medicine Hat, took over the responsibilities of organizing the annual Ride. The club canvases local businesses for door prize items or monetary donations. All participants in the Ride Day for CORE, biker and non-biker alike can buy tickets for these prizes.
33 bikes showed up for the Day. Their travels took them out to Elkwater, a hot spot for summer fun and a very scenic ride. Who would think the you could find a hilly, lush environment in the middle of the prairies, but Elkwater has it all. When the riders returned to the CORE Association they were welcomed with open arms. A lot of the younger clients had shown up to greet the “BIKERS” and check out the beautiful bikes. It was such a heart warming sight to
RIDE FOR CORE DAY My second stop of the day was the CORE Association in Downtown Medicine Hat. Since you are all wondering WTF is CORE…lol. CORE (CLIENTS ONGING REHABILITATION & EQUALITY) Association. A non-profit organization that provides community services for people with developmental disabilities and support systems for them and their families in becoming contributing members for the community. CORE envisions the day when all people with
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see the smiles on these kids faces and the twinkle in their eyes. A sight that I cherish, just knowing how much joy this event brings every year for the past 14 years. Rita Bessant who has been with the CORE Association for 30 years welcomed all the riders as well as the public and explained how very important this annual ride was. Not only for the monetary donation that they receive but how important it was to the clients. On hand to thank the riders for their participation and support was Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Klugston, and MLA Drew Barnes. After the draws were made for the door prizes the poker hands were awarded. The winning hand with 2
pairs received $200.00 and worst hand walked away with $50. Between the poker hands, UMCI and the door prizes the United Motorcycle Club was able to make a $1,690.00 donation to CORE. All monetary donations are used to enhance the quality of services CORE provides. When I was there I saw the following quote that had a profound effect on me. “A child is like a butterfly in the wind. Some can fly higher than others, but each one flies the best they can. Why compare one to another?” REDCLIFF DAYS The Third and final stop for the day was Redcliff Days, where S.E.A.R (South Eastern Alberta Riders) and BWC (Brother’s Without Colors) had a joint event with all the
proceeds going to the Redcliff Youth Centre. S.E.A.R was providing a Ham Bunwich for a donation to the Redcliff Youth Center. President of S.E.A.R. Ron (Crash) Hildebrandt and a number of other members were there serving up the Bunwiches. Right next to the BBQ was the BWC Show N Shine with an opportunity for the Kids to vote on their favorite bike and put their name in a draw for a BMX bike. The guys had freezies, bubbles and sodas at no charge for the kids.
Around the corner the BWC had a bikini bike wash that was a big hit. Who doesn’t like scantily clad women washing their ride. Elizabeth Toews and Ellisha Baker did a great
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job on the bikes and if anyone was missing a husband or significant other, trust me that’s where they were found. By early afternoon S.E.A.R. had ran out of Bunwiches and had raised $600.00 for the Redcliff Youth Centre. The Winners of the Show N Shine was Stephanie Jeffreys with her 2008 CVO Springer Soft Tail for first place and Terry Blue and Brent Early in second place with their Custom-Built Chopper. Adrian Smith was the
winner of the BMX Bike, even though he had left his little brother was more than happy to pose for a picture. The girls at the Bikini wash did a wonderful job and donated the 225.00 that they had raised by washing bikes plus a car and donated it back to be included in the amount that was donated to The Redcliff Youth Centre bringing the total donation to 825.00. Thankyou ladies for your hard work and generosity. Dead Hog Boogie June 23, 24 and 25th marked the 11th Annual Dead Hog Boogie put on by S.E.A.R. (South Eastern Alberta Riders) at the Rodeo Grounds in Manyberries, Alberta. Friday afternoon the members of S.E.A.R set up for
what we hoped would be a kick ass weekend. Food Truck was on hand, the trailers and tents started showing up around noon. By supper time the coolers were filled to the brim with Alcoholic Beverages, food was in the freezer for Saturday’s Supper, and the games had been prepared for the Bike Rodeo on Saturday. The voting had begun on the “Favorite Boobies” poster of all the girls’ cleavage (including mine) from last year to be voted on this year. The winner was #2. K-MAG-YOYO (Kiss My Ass Guys Your On Your Own) a new and upcoming 4- piece band from Medicine Hat was
set up and ready to Rock and Roll. These guys have been together just over a year and a half and play anything from Johnny Cash to Metallica and everything in between. K-MAG-YOYO will be playing the Cobler Family Fundraiser at the Irvine Campgrounds as well as Aug Long weekend at Riders Ranch Motorcycle Campgrounds just outside of Creston B.C. Great bunch of guys with an awesome sound system and major lighting. If you ever get a chance to check them out, tell them Momma sent you.
Saturday was the day everyone had been waiting for “The Bike Rodeo”. Slow Race – Winner Ian “Tiny” Hogan, Keg Push – Winner Kyle Jarhaus and Beer Chug - Winner Wayne Resener, Pole in the Hole – Winners Newf and Sonya, Tater Toss – Winners Brandon and Bailey, Honey I’m
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Home – Winners Brandon and Bailey (Did I mention that this was Brandon and Bailey’s first time at the Dead Hog Boogie) Mattress Pull – Winners - Mark and Diane Jeffrey. By that time the Hams were ready and supper was served. After supper was done, back to the games we went with the Balloon Toss – Winners Troy Fandrick and Steph Jeffrey, and we finished off with the Wiener Bite – Winners “Tiny” and Michelle Hogan. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do the shitter pull as time was running out. After the games concluded the awards were handed out to the winners of the games, we started the dunk tank. Everything that was raised throughout the weekend will be donated to Halo and the Redcliff Youth Centre at a later date. The SEAR members were bound and determined to get the President Ron Hildebrandt (crash) into the dunk tank, but in order to do that we had to come up with $1,000.00 cold hard cash. Crash’s son Dent (Ian
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from Manyberries who’s son Grady can’t wait to come out and have some fun with his parents and grandparents at the Dead Hog Boogie. This year was no different. Since he was there last year his family has worked hard on making him his own vest with all the biker patches that he has collected over the years. He loves to dance with the ladies and put a smile on everyone’s face so this year the SEAR members decided to give him his own skull cap and make him an honorary SEAR member. When I presented this to him he turned and told him mom. “This is the Best Day EVER”. See you next year little man. Things are lining up for July with Redcliff Hylton’s 13th Annual Poker Run July 8th and The Riders For Halo Fuel Booster Run July 22 to mention a few. The weather here has been perfect riding weather so who knows where Momma’s travels will take her. Until next time Stay Safe - Momma So for now, more riding and another reminder that The Riders Mag is a free magazine paid for by our advertisers and always supports our troops. Please continue to patronize our advertisers as they do make all of this possible. If you or your Before K-MAG-YOYO started playing for the night we company would like to advertise or have your had our Men’s and Women’s Motor toss, and let me tell event or charity covered, please give me a call. you the women did just as good as the men. Dan T Every year for the past 3 years we have a local family Hildebrandt) and the rest of the SEAR members were on a mission to make this happen, and it did. After that we had volunteers come up. In total alone on the dunk tank 1,950.00 was raised towards Halo and the Redcliff Youth Centre.
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4728 Egremont Dr. Strathroy, ON ( 15 min. west of London )
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What if you were playing in the club championship tournament finals and the match was halved at the end of 17 holes. You had the honor and hit your ball a modest two hundred fifty yards to the middle of the fairway, leaving a simple six iron to the pin. Your opponent then hits his ball, lofting it deep into the woods to the right of the fairway. Being the golfing gentleman that you are, you help your opponent look for his ball. Just before the permitted five minute search period ends, your opponent says: “Go ahead and hit your second shot and if I don’t find it in time, I’ll concede the match.” You hit your ball, landing it on the green, stopping about ten feet from the pin. About the time your ball comes to rest, you hear your opponent exclaim from deep in the woods: “I found it!”. The second sound you hear is a click, the sound of a club striking a ball and the ball comes sailing out of the woods and lands on the green, stopping no more than six inches from the hole. Now here is the ethical dilemma:Do you pull the cheating bastard’s ball out of your pocket and confront him with it or do you keep your mouth shut? My Trip To The Airport Eatery There was a bit of confusion at the airport eatery this morning. When I was ready to pay for my items, the cashier said, “Strip down facing me.” Making a mental note to complain to my member of parliament about Homeland Security running amok, I did just as he had instructed. When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided, I found out that he was referring to my credit card. I have been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They need to make their instructions to us seniors a little clearer! After he posed the question in prayer, God visited the man and told him he must give up smoking, drinking and sex if he wanted to get into heaven. The man said he
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would try his best. God visited the man a week later to see how he was ge�ng on. “Not bad” said the man, “I’ve given up smoking and drinking but when the wife bent over the lounge suite and I caught sight of her wonderfully shaped derriere and long slender legs, I pulled her skirt up, pulled her knickers to one side and gave her one right there.” “They don’t like that in heaven”, said God. The man replied “They’re not too happy about it in Wal-Mart either!” Two nuns were shopping at a 7-11 store. As they passed by the beer cooler, one nun said to the other, “ wouldn’t a nice cool beer or two taste wonderful on a hot summer evening?” the second nun answered, “indeed it would, sister, but i would not feel comfortable buying beer, since i am certain it would cause a scene at the checkout stand.” “i can handle that without a problem” the other nun replied, and she picked up a six-pack and headed for the check-out. The cashier had a surprised look on his face when the two nuns arrived with a six-pack of beer. “we use beer for washing our hair” the nun said, “back at our nunnery, we call it “catholic shampoo.” without blinking an eye, the cashier reached under the counter. Pulled out a package of pretzel sticks, and placed them in the bag with the beer. He then looked the nun straight in the eye, smiled, and said: “the curlers are on the house.” A very tired nurse walks into a bank, totally exhausted after an 18-hour shift. Preparing to write a check, she pulls a rectal thermometer out of her purse and tries to write with it. When she realizes her mistake, she looks at the flabbergasted cashier, and without missing a beat, she says: ‘Well, that’s great....that’s just great.....some asshole’s got my pen!’ THESE ARE ENTRIES TO A WASHINGTON POST COMPETITION ASKING FOR A TWO-LINE RHYME WITH THE MOST ROMANTIC FIRST LINE, AND THE LEAST ROMANTIC SECOND LINE: 1. My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife: Marrying you has screwed up my life. 2. I see your face when I am dreaming. That’s why I always wake up screaming. 3. Kind, intelligent, loving and hot; This describes everything you are not. 4. Love may be beautiful, love may be bliss, But I only slept with you ‘cause I was pissed . 5. I thought that I could love no other