FORT RILEY, Kan. - Soon after the sun rose over the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters building, the pops and growls of dozens of motorcycles permeated the humid air hanging over the buildingAca,!a,,cs parking lot.
Aca,!A"LetAca,!a,,cs have a good ride,Aca,!A? said Command Sgt. Maj. Darrell Aca,!A"BuddyAca,!A? Wallace, command sergeant major for the 1st Infantry Division-Rear, before the beginning of the second 2010 Big Red One Motorcycle Safety Ride.
More than 150 Soldiers, veterans and Department of Defense civilians participated in the ride.
Aca,!A"Hopefully, riders will get a day's worth of safety and fun out of it. Riding is a continuous learning process. If we can go through an entire riding season without one rider having to be stopped and corrected, then we can rest on our laurels. Until then, we have to teach our Soldiers and DA civilians what right looks like,Aca,!A? said Staff Sgt. Jon Gaboury, G3.
Aca,!A"The easiest way for most of us to learn is by watching and doing. This gives all the riders a chance to learn together (and) Aca,!A| is a way for inexperienced riders to see how things are supposed to be. It is also a time for mentors in the units to connect with these riders and help them progress into safer riders and mentors themselves,Aca,!A? he said.
Unlike the previous BRO ride May 21, which had participants riding 99.1 miles through Manhattan to U.S. 77, toward the Fort Riley Marina, and finally, back around through Henry Gate, the second ride took post motor bike enthusiasts through Manhattan to Highway 24 and all the way to the Topeka Harley-Davidson in Topeka and back again.
Aca,!A"Each time we plan for a BRO ride, we try to incorporate a different location of our surrounding area so that the residents can see the Soldiers that they support so well, Gaboury said. Aca,!A"It also serves to take a Soldier that might not ever travel in those areas to get out and experience all that the Flint Hills Region has to offer.Aca,!A?
Experienced and inexperienced alike participated in a ride that, for many, was the largest they had taken part of.
Aca,!A"I hope (people) see us out doing something in the community,Aca,!A? said Sgt. Randy Maurer, 299th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div.
Sgt. Aaron Philbrick, 287th Military Police Company, and Sgt. Toney Shaun, 101st Forward Support Battalion, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., both agreed with MaurerAca,!a,,cs sentiments, saying they felt excited for the ride and the experience it brought.
Aca,!A"Any time is a good time to ride,Aca,!A? Maurer said with a grin.
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