Anne Rickertsen “Helmet Truck Anne”

Many of us fondly remember Anne’s annual meeting with DOB when she would join us in the back room of the SF Eagle one or two Wednesdays before Pride to confirm that she had the helmet boxes stored at Veritable Vegetable and would see us out on Market Street bright and early on Sunday morning. After the Parade, Anne and her group of dedicated volunteers would stay at the helmet truck for hours, patiently handing helmets and gear back to the riders who had gone inside the celebration grounds.

Our participation in Pride for all these years would not have been the same without her presence and everything she gave that morning to make sure our riders had an amazing time riding in the Parade and enjoying the rest of the day. Those who have ridden in other Pride Parades and have had to bungee cord their helmets and gear to their bikes can appreciate having a gear truck as part of our contingent.

And, of course, the crowd loves when the big (often semi-) truck, which for many years was provided and driven by Veritable Vegetable, comes rumbling up Market following the last motorcycles, making the tight right-hand turn onto 7th Street look like a breeze, accentuated by the loud honk of the air horn.

By her own counting, Anne rode with Dykes on Bikes for almost 30 years. We will miss Anne’s smile and powerful, but calm, presence. Thank you, Anne, for everything you gave to Dykes on Bikes and for being a legend in the Dykes on Bikes community.