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Maintainer part of Air Force cycling team

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Mota
  • 434 ARW Public Affiars
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Exhausted and out of breath, the bicyclist reached the top of the first hill to find four more hills ahead. Strong crosswinds added to Richard Scully's mental stress of knowing that there were 60 more miles of rolling hills before the second day of the event was over and six more days left before he reached the finish line.

Scully, a quality assurance inspector and master sergeant in Air Force Reserve Command's 434th Maintenance Group here, is an avid cyclist and part of the Air Force cycling team.

His most recent accomplishment, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is a 461-mile bicycle ride that began on the western border of Iowa and ended on the eastern border of the state - all in seven days.

"I have always enjoyed cycling," Scully said, "and decided to enter after reading about it (the RAGBRAI) in an article."

Scully said he used to ride but quit for a period of time until he injured his knee. He began cycling again to help strengthen the knee. Now, he also uses the sport as a means of stress relief.

Even though he's been cycling for more than three years, two months of preparation and more than 600 miles of riding time were needed to prepare for the event in Iowa.

Cyclists need to keep hydrated and eat properly on long rides, he added. There were times when he was not hungry due to the heat and the humidity but still ate in order to keep up his endurance.

All in all, the Air Force allows 100 members to ride in the event each year. Air Force nominees were selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Twelve thousand other cyclists from around the country, including the seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong rode in the event.

Scully said that the diversity in the large group of people participating in the event gave him the opportunity to build Air Force public relations and help with recruitment by talking with civilians about the Air Force on his down time.

"It is amazing the number of people who support us and what we do," he said.

The fact that they all share the common interest of cycling helps set a foundation for building friendships, he added.

The general public views the Air Force as a single unit and by meeting people and riding with them it shows them the human aspect of who Airmen are and that they are people like everyone else, he said.

Scully plans to participate next year as well.

He said finishing the tour gave him a sense of accomplishment, but the best part of finishing the bicycle ride was having his wife and children at the finish line with him to celebrate. (AFRC News Service)