Air Force team a large presence in annual bike ride

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kristen D. Duncan
  • Air Force Cycling Team Public Affairs
BELLEVUE, Iowa (AFPN) --  After seven days of bicycling nearly 500 miles across Iowa, the 148-member Air Force Cycling Team rode into the final stop July 28 amidst a cheering crowd of hundreds.

A police escort led the two-column formation as spectators cheered "Go Air Force" and took photographs of the riders.

The final stop concluded their participation in the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, known as RAGBRAI, which started in Rock Rapids, Iowa, July 22 and ended here at the Mississippi River.

"The Air Force is the nicest and best team out here on the tour," said a Team Chicago Urban Bike Club member.

On day five of the ride, 1st Lt. Jose Cadelina, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and 1st Lt. Steve Pfau, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb., came to the assistance of an injured woman who had just had a bicycle accident. 

The woman couldn't feel her back and asked for some shade. While the officers waited for an ambulance, they provided shade for 30 minutes by standing over her.

"Whoever is shading me, thank you, it's helping a lot," she told them.

The Air Force Cycling Team participates in RAGBRAI for recruiting purposes and to highlight the service's involvement in the war on terrorism and being fit to fight.

More information can be found on the Air Force Cycling Team Web site. 

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