Photo By Tech. Sgt. Michael Cossaboom | Capt. Sara McDowell, 375th Medical Operations Squadron mental health clinic officer in...... read more read more
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As the orange hue from the sun was cast over miles of ripening cornfields, a cool Midwest breeze carried the smell of the morning dew throughout southern Illinois. It was quiet. Nothing but the sound of crickets could be heard. Until, slowly, the soft rattling of bike chains could be heard in the distance. With each passing second the sounds grew louder, then seven riders all donned in their Air Force blue bike uniforms appeared from around a bend.
Sweat was dripping from their faces as they pedaled faster. Jokes and stories from past rides were shared as they pedaled onward. This was a simple 18-mile ride in preparation for the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, or RAGBRAI.
Stationed out of Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is a team of seven riders and one support member who are part of the Air Force Cycling Team. While they train hard to ensure their cycling skills are sharp, the Air Force is the reason they hop on a bike every night.
“It doesn’t matter if you are in communications or operations, you can fly or you can be in services,” said retired Lt. Col. Thomas Black. “It’s the common bond of the enjoyment of riding, I think that’s what brings everyone together.”
The team would get together every week to ride. It gave them opportunities to not only build endurance on a bike, but to learn how to ride in a formation with a team. But all that training wasn’t just for the fun of it. Every July for the past 45 years the RAGBRAI brings together almost 1,000 cyclists from around the U.S., and every year members from across the Air Force come to participate. This year RAGBRAI was July 22 through 28.
“It’s pretty awesome when you can see us go from a riding team of seven, to the full Air Force cycling team of 120 or so riders,” said Black. “That’s when you can truly see the unity and the impact we have.”
The ride took them all the way through Iowa, starting in the Missouri River and ending with their front tires dipped in the Mississippi River. But the ride is more than just cycling, it’s a way to bring the Air Force closer to local communities.
“There are a few things that you need to be able to do before you are on the team. You need to be able to ride with the team, you need to know how to change a flat tire, you need to be able to ride 100 miles in a day, then you have to commit to help others out there on the road,” said Black.
On the back of every Air Force jersey are the words “Guardian Angels of the Road.” During the ride, at any point, if the riders came across a medical injury, a car that has run out of gas, or just in general someone in need, the riders stopped to help, upholding their Air Force core values every step of the way.
“It’s kind of a unique feeling in the sense that you are part of something bigger than you,” said Black. “While you may go out, and you may train by yourself and ride roads around the country, as we get together as a team and go out there is always that different sense, a buzz if you will. The feeling of togetherness, a sense of unity and purpose.”
The riders camped in host towns along the way and in every town in which they stopped they were sure to take time to talk to the kids and members of the community, to share with them what the Air Force is all about.
“Most people know about what we do out on the course every day, providing mechanical assistance and sometimes basic first aid, so there's usually a great deal of appreciation when we interact with everyone,” said Tech. Sgt. James Wagner, 375th Medical Operations Squadron mental health technician. “Then when you actually start talking with people about where you're from, what you do, who you are, and they’re genuinely interested and incredibly supportive. I was always just as interested in hearing their stories.”
No matter how much training or preparation the riders put into getting ready for RAGBRAI, it’s not always about how strong your muscles are or fast you can pedal.
“Regardless of how many miles you ride before, you really won’t ever string together 500 miles in seven days,” said Black. “It does take a little bit of heart, a little bit of effort to do that. And we can do it at a leisurely pace, because we are not being pushed to ride a stage. But there is definitely a level of commitment to do that.”
As the sun rose higher during their short training ride, the smiles of the team grew bigger because they were doing what they love for a nation that supports them.
Accompanying Black and Wagner on the ride were Col. Greg Young, Lt. Col. Vincent Zabala, Capt. Kyle Smathers, Capt. Sara McDowell, Airman 1st Class Ruben Tala and Kim Smathers.
| Date Taken: | 10.25.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.25.2018 17:56 |
| Story ID: | 297777 |
| Location: | O'FALLON, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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