HEIDELBERG, Germany - Decked out in her hot pink chaps, hot pink leather jacket and hot pink helmet and seated on her hot pink Harley, Kit Dupont was ready for the first Motorcycle Rally and River Ride at the Heidelberg Heliport May 27.
Dupont, who is the Mannheim Thrift Store manager, has been riding motorcycles since she was 6, so she wasn't going to miss out on an opportunity to ride with the U.S. Army Garrison Baden-WAfA1/4rttemberg community.
"I just like to get out there and cruise and enjoy the scenery," she said while standing next to her Harley Davidson Sportster 883.
Dupont was one of about 60 riders who participated in a group ride along the Neckar River after the morning's motorcycle safety activities. She wasn't the only female rider out there, but she was definitely the only one decked out in hot pink.
"I like pink just a little," she said. "Riding a Harley is all about expressing yourself, and this is me."
If the pink leather streamers on her handle bars or the pink leather seat didn't drive home that point, her jacket certainly did - in glittery rhinestones, it proclaims to the world: "Pink isn't just a color, it's an attitude."
Along with Dupont's pink Harley were a wide variety of leisure and sport bikes owned by Soldiers, civilians and family members from across the garrison communities. They all joined together to refresh their safety techniques as the riding season kicks off for the summer.
Motorcycle Safety Foundation-certified rider coach and trainer Peter Buttner was there to provide the group ride briefing.
The safety training helped the riders "realize some bad habits they need to correct," Buttner said.
He has been involved in the planning of the event with the USAG Baden-WAfA1/4rttemberg Safety Office since early this year to make sure the event was a success for the community.
About 80 riders were registered for the event, but the rainy weather deterred some of the riders.
The sun did pop out for the ride and the barbecue at the Rod and Gun Club, where the riders could check out each other's bikes and win prizes from Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, AAFES and Harley Davidson Military Sales.
According to garrison safety officials, the intention is to make the Motorcycle Rally and River Ride an annual community event.
"As long as we come out in numbers as riders, I think the garrison will continue to support us as riders," Dupont said.
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