News

Reflection and looking forward by R. Bruce Thomas How is it that we are at the end of October already and there has already been snow on the ground? This year seems to have just sped by and riding season is over for most people. However, looking back at it, Read more

After a summer of riding! by R. Bruce Thomas 1 – For many years I’ve worn Motoport Kevlar riding overpants and jacket. I bought it for the protection the gear offers me and know it works after “road testing” it when I got t-boned. I never counted on the entertainment Read more

But they still happen… by R. Bruce Thomas Well, about a week after the last AMSS monthly edition was published the AB Government changed the highway rules for passing stopped vehicles with flashing lights. We’ve had to slow down or move over for Police, Ambulances, tow trucks and firetrucks and Read more

plus Road Work Season by: R. Bruce Thomas EDIT from AMSS: At the time of this article was written and published (July 31, 2023), the changes were expected to be what you read below – simply adding in snowplows and the move over a lane.  At this time, there is Read more

Big and small considerations for a successful trip by: R. Bruce Thomas With all the border restrictions finally removed it is likely that people are finally looking at heading south of the 49th to ride some of the many great roads in the United States. Perhaps you have a hankering Read more

And today is not a good day to die by: R. Bruce Thomas (no major spoilers) I had no idea what I was going to write about this month and then my wife and I just watched the series finale of Star Trek: Picard. This three-season series focused on Captain Read more

Spring Tips to Consider by: R. Bruce Thomas Wow. It’s that time of year again. Have you been out riding yet? We didn’t get tons of snow over the winter so many roads are bare and dry as long as you don’t go out too early when there could still Read more

Featuring a simple training video by: R. Bruce Thomas Motorcycles are dangerous. Ask anyone. Ask your Mom. That’s how I started the last piece and it seems rather fitting with the subject this time. Some people would think this activity is very dangerous. And it could be, if you just Read more

Maybe Someday by R. Bruce Thomas Motorcycles are dangerous. Ask anyone. Ask your Mom. The thing is, motorcycles are not dangerous. Granted, you can suffer greater injury if you are involved in a crash while riding a motorcycle than if you were in a car, but that doesn’t make the Read more

A dive into the pandemic years and more. by R. Bruce Thomas AMSS President Liane Langlois reached out to me with a topic suggestion for this News edition – look at fatality stats during the COVID years. Since my post in February 2022 was Why We Crash, it seemed fitting Read more

Visibility Tips by R. Bruce Thomas A recent conversation with AMSS Board Member Jon Watchuk turned, not surprisingly, to the topic of safety features in automobiles that have an impact on the safety of motorcyclists. The presence on many vehicles now of Blind Spot Warning (BSW) lights on side mirrors Read more

Listen up when something just doesn’t feel right by R. Bruce Thomas It was late at night and the Trans Canada Highway was dark and empty as Norm and I got closer to our destination – Kirkland Lake, ON. I was leading the way and had my high beams and Read more

Ask for what you want by R. Bruce Thomas As I sit here at my computer in the early hours of August 25th I realize it is four months until Christmas and, while I shudder at the thought of the snow and cold that comes with the winter holiday season, Read more

The Things You Learn by R. Bruce Thomas I had some thoughts on topics for this edition and told Liane to expect my submission within a couple of days. A day later and I had yet to decide which way I was going to go or to start putting words Read more

Or Any Ride for that Matter by R. Bruce Thomas Is my side stand up I’d hate to stall it on this first ride before everything becomes automatic again Were all my lights working before starting this ride Early season rides are perfect – no bugs Is my visor clean Read more

(later) Been there, Done that by R. Bruce Thomas Welcome to June. It’s hard to believe that one of my favorite parts of the riding season has already gone by. For the next four months things will get a little messy. You know what I’m talking about as it happens Read more

Don’t let a little sand and gravel stop you. by R. Bruce Thomas I was in to the dentist near the end of March for my annual checkup and the two of us got talking about things, as one does when sitting in the chair. He told me about some Read more

Tips from women to women! by: R. Bruce Thomas Last year I sent out a request to my riding friends asking for input into what became a three-part series here called Advice For (new) Riders. This year, at the suggestion of my little sister who had her own Kawasaki KZ400 Read more

Insight into AMSS by: R. Bruce Thomas The tagline on the Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society web site says “Safety, Education, and Awareness for Alberta Motorcycle Riders”.  As an organizational slogan this seems to be pretty succinct and a fitting goal for the group. But a group is made up of Read more

Winter reading, plus an Art Gallery surprise! by R. Bruce Thomas In the off season, one thing I like to do is plan rides and trips for the upcoming summer riding. This keeps me thinking about riding and gets me excited and ready to ride once the roads clear up. Read more

Things to check out! by R. Bruce Thomas At times like this I can’t help but think of the closing scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian and it seems like a good time for a whistle and a song. “Some things in life are bad They can really make Read more

Give it a rest by R. Bruce Thomas As I followed my new friend Mark along I-15 I noticed he was tapping his hand to the music. What struck me as odd was it was his right hand on his right leg. We were cruising and his efforts at being Read more

Not just for vacationing children by R. Bruce Thomas When I was a youngster and my family went on summer vacations across Canada and into the United States, my siblings and I would play The License Plate Game. It gave us something to do as the seemingly endless miles rolled Read more

Good for trains, tough on motorcycles by R. Bruce Thomas Wedged wheels, mangled mirrors, pummelled panniers, and broken body parts. The more I read, the more I got freaked out. And I had many months through the winter of 2009 to remain in that state since Google Street View didn’t Read more

A Cautionary Tale By: R. Bruce Thomas It was 4:30 AM and the smell of burning rubber had been hanging heavy in the cool, early morning air for about 15 minutes as Norm and I rode through the Kaibab National Forest in Northern Arizona. I mentioned to Norm that something Read more