McConnell Total Force team completes bike ride across Iowa

by Capt. Zach Anderson
931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs

7/29/2014 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- 

Several members of Team McConnell were among more than 35,000 cyclists participating in the 42^nd Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), July 20-26.  Members of the U.S. Air Force cycling team took part in the more than 400 mile ride across the state, including a Total Force representation made up of active duty, reserve and guard members of Team McConnell.

According to the event website, the annual seven-day bicycle ride is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world.

Longtime cycling enthusiast Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Salomon, 931^st Maintenance Squadron, is a veteran of RAGBRAI and said the event is an opportunity to represent the Air Force and its core values to a unique audience.

"I've been doing this event for five years now with the Air Force Cycling Team," said Salomon.  "RAGBRAI is a great event where you can show others that the Air Force is a group of men and women that have great values and integrity and can have fun as well."

As the members of Team McConnell rode through countless towns and communities across Iowa, they and their fellow members of the Air Force Cycling Team left a strong impression on the individuals with whom they interacted.  Salomon said the Air Force team has a reputation for assisting other riders along the route.

"It's a good feeling to know that people appreciate us being there for the event," said Salomon.  "There were plenty of people who would come up to us and ask if they could take our picture because we were the Air Force Cycling Team.  There were also plenty of people that would see us when we were riding by them and want to talk and would tell us how they felt safer on the route because they knew if they had any problems there would be an Air Force rider there to help them in their time of need."

This year, the team had a unique opportunity to make a stop along the route at the home of a World War II Veteran for a photo and to visit with him during a family reunion.

Salomon said the ride was at times difficult, but a tremendous experience for himself and the other U.S. Air Force riders.

"It was a great ride, and the team was great," he said.  "It was also a time when you were challenged with the wind and the hills that we had to ride through, but it was fun!"