News

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 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 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 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 Read more…

Khan you hear me now? By: R. Bruce Thomas The day had begun like most; we’d risen, had breakfast, packed the bikes (our friend Mac was along with us), and hit the road. Our usual pattern had us riding for Read more…

The Sequel By: R. Bruce Thomas Quick show of hands. How many have been out riding already this year? Spring came early and March had some very nice days, as did April, and here we are at the end of Read more…

And other slow speed maneuvers By: R. Bruce Thomas One of the young fellows at the office had purchased a Kawasaki Ninja 300 near the end of the previous riding season and had done a small amount of riding before Read more…

Riding By: R. Bruce Thomas & Friends** Just as in real life, where there are always things beyond our control or influence, it is important to understand when riding a motorcycle that you can’t control other vehicles, so be in Read more…

Training & Learning By: R. Bruce Thomas & Friends** In his 2016 book Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon to Me!, the late Neil Peart used only eight words to acknowledge the ever-present risks which every rider should be aware Read more…

Your Motorcycle By: R. Bruce Thomas & Friends Happy New Year everyone! Yes, it’s February, but the AMSS doesn’t put out a News Update in January so here we are wishing you a Happy New Year and yearning for new Read more…

Things that can kill you! By: R. Bruce Thomas A dozen years ago my wife and I enjoyed a few days of riding in BC’s Kootenay region before heading to Vernon for a visit with her brother and his family. Read more…

It’s not just for when you’re riding! By: R. Bruce Thomas It was a Wednesday and I was sitting in the Emergency Room wearing shorts when a fellow in a wheelchair got rolled up beside me. His left leg was Read more…

Quality Time By: R. Bruce Thomas The screaming started almost immediately. One of the ladies who worked with my wife confided one day that riding on a motorcycle was an item on her bucket list, and she wondered if I Read more…

Lock it or lose it by: R. Bruce Thomas My wife was on the verge of crying when I answered the phone. She couldn’t find our van. With errands to run after work she’d driven to the transit station in Read more…

What’s in your pannier? by: R. Bruce Thomas Twenty-sixteen was the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the National Park Service in the United States and my buddy Norm and I thought it would be an appropriate year to tackle Read more…

Increased safety through variable lane positioning By: R. Bruce Thomas One of the main points mentioned when it comes to motorcycle safety is the importance of being visible. Oftentimes the conversation is around wearing bright colors, attaching reflective striping to Read more…

Carry a good supply of liquid & use it wisely! By: R. Bruce Thomas The human body is made up of anywhere between 45-65% water, depending on your gender. For women it is between 45-60% and men range from 50-65%. Read more…