Largest Air Force contingent rides across Iowa Published July 24, 2007 By Capt. Kristen D. Duncan Air Force Cycling Team Public Affairs ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa (AFPN) -- At dawn on July 21, 148 Air Force Cycling Team bicyclists kicked off a 477-mile bike ride across Iowa. Sponsored by the Des Moines Register newspaper, the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, or RAGBRAI, is the longest, largest and oldest ride in America with 10,000 riders from all over the country. The Air Force team is in its 13th year here and with 148 riders, it is one of the largest teams to ride in this, the 35th RAGBRAI. "What I see for the Air Force Cycling Team being here is that we are all recruiters, we are here to tell the people of Iowa that we're out here with active duty, guard, Reserve, dependents and all the other services and it's like a community," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Rue, Air Force Cycling Team director and a network engineer for Air Force Cyber Command. "When we ride into their town, we are showing them that the Air Force is a community, too." According to Sergeant Rue, recruiting has increased in the state of Iowa by 25 to 30 percent since the Air Force team began 13 years ago. The Air Force team works as recruiters by talking to young adults and children and their parents, and by being great ambassadors on the road. Not only do the team members serve as wingmen for each other, but they help riders with minor repairs or those who might have fallen. "RAGBRAI officials look up to the Air Force and all the military teams," he said. "They're very happy when we're here and they say that if every team conducted themselves like the military teams, their job would be a lot easier." Day one of the ride was a 76-mile ride from Rock Rapids to Spencer. Once most of the riders had made it to Spencer, four combat controllers from the 720th Special Tactics Group dropped in on the main entertainment stage, literally. The Air Force Special Operations Command team performed a free-fall jump from a C-130 Hercules from Hurlburt Field, Fla., to highlight their warfighting capabilities. Lt. Gen. Mike Wooley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, was on hand to welcome his team onto the stage and they each saluted the applauding crowd. General Wooley is riding in his sixth RAGBRAI. The team rode into Humboldt on July 23, an Airman was reenlisted in front of the team and a team of American Legion veterans. Other events lined up for the team include a four-ship F-16 Flying Falcon flyover in Cedar Falls, and the Heartland Band of America, the "Raptors," playing in Dyersville later in the week. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) Click here to view the comments/letters page