Barksdale cyclists roll into Iowa

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
LE CLAIRE, Iowa --  Members of the Barksdale Air Force Base Cycling Team journeyed to Iowa July 18 to participate in the 36th Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. 

RAGBRAI, a non-competitive cycling event consisting of a seven-day bike ride across the state of Iowa, starts at the western edge of the state and ends on the eastern edge. Each day cyclists stopped for lunch and conversed with locals in meeting towns, and stayed overnight in a host community. 

Each year new towns and a new route are selected by a committee. This year's route was 471 miles long and, cyclists averaged 67 miles per day, with a total of 22,500 feet of climb. 

The Barksdale team met up with the rest of the Air Force Cycling Team in Missouri Valley, Iowa, to comprise a team of 135 active duty, retiree, and dependant cyclists, marked the 14th year of AFCT participation. 

Master Sgt. Curtis Scrugham, first-time RAGBRAI participant and team leader of the Barksdale team, explained the Air Force mission while participating in the RAGBRAI. 

"The mission here is to be ambassadors," said Sergeant Scrugham. "The Air Force does not have any active duty bases here in Iowa most of these people do not have any exposure to the Air Force so we are here to give them that exposure." 

Starting out as a support crew member, Major John Pugh has the most experience with the ride among the Barksdale team, having ridden for three years. Not only did he share his wisdom with his fellow teammates he shared his favorite element of the ride with them as well. "The small towns that we pass through, it is amazing to me, the number of people who sit out lawn chairs just to say 'hi', or 'good morning'." said Major Pugh, "The response we get from the people of Iowa is awesome, especially towards the AFCT, cause everyone knows us and wants to say 'hi' to us." 

Sharing road stories about the hospitality of the locals, and bike shop talk became a nightly ritual within the Barksdale camp, brining the members of the team together. "As a team, we really didn't know each other that well, most of us hadn't met before, and there are only two or three veterans on the team," said Sergeant Scrugham. "So as the days went on and we did everything together, riding, setting up camp, we have grown closer together." 

"Being a military team like we are, we are always in the same [situations] together, and it's funny how we always just come together, like we have known each other forever," Major Pugh added. "It is because we have that camaraderie that is unique to those of us in the military." 

Team Barksdale could be seen riding together up until they rolled into Le Claire, Iowa, the final town, in formation with the rest of the AFCT lead by a police escort. 

The new members of the team echoed Sergeant Scrugham's enthusiastic declaration after the 471 mile ride, "This was an awesome experience! Definitely worth repeating."