CTSF cyclists participate in R2R ride in Central Texas

By Mr. David G Landmann (CECOM)April 13, 2010

CTSF Director with R2R riders
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R2R riders tackle hill together
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Central Technical Support Facility cyclist Mr. Bill Crain
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Army Chief of Staff, Gen Casey with Central Texas R2R riders
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FORT HOOD, Texas -- Five members of the Whitfill Central Technical Support Facility (CTSF) community rode their bicycles in support of wounded warriors in the annual Don't Mess with Texas Challenge Ride to Recovery (R2R).

One of the five, Bill Crain, a C4I program specialist with the Extended Range Multi-Purpose Unmanned Aircraft System, rode the entire San Antonio to Arlington route, a tour that took an armada of 140 cyclists, most of whom with service-related disabilities, five days and 355 miles to complete.

The CTSF's technical director, David McClung, rode in support of the R2R warriors on a 65-mile leg on the third day of the tour between Texas' capital city of Austin, and Fort Hood. He was joined on the final third of the Austin-Fort Hood ride, by MAJ Roy Cantrell, CTSF assistant program manager for support.

McClung and Cantrell were joined on Day 4 of the ride by CTSF Test Floor Operations Manager Wayne McCart, and CTSF Strategic Communications Chief David Landmann as they escorted the contingent of disabled cyclists on the first 20 miles of their ride from Fort Hood to Waco. All five agreed the R2R experience was one they would never forget.

"It was just unbelievable," Crain said looking back at the experience. "I was honored and humbled... When you ride with guys who have lost an arm or a leg...in some cases both legs, you really appreciate the sacrifices they made for their country."

The Don't Mess with Texas Challenge is one of three annual R2R events. The others are staged in June in Virginia, and in July in Wyoming and Colorado. The R2Rs are produced by the Fitness Challenge Foundation in partnership with military and Veterans Administration Service Office help injured veterans overcome obstacles they face.

"Cycling," organizers say, "is an important part of the recovery and rehabilitation program because (it) is an activity that almost all patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate in."

Participation in the R2R program, they add, helps speed up the rehabilitation and recovery process. That's why the phrase "No arms. No Legs. No problem." is used to encourage veterans bearing the physical and psychological wounds of their military service to join the ride. Supporters are offered three options. They can sponsor a rider, they can participate themselves, or they can simply make donations.

For Crain, 51, a retired Army signal sergeant major, the Texas Challenge R2R began several months ago when he paid his $75 entry fee, and committed to raise a required minimum $3,000 donation. For his donation, he received a red, white and blue R2R riding uniform, or kit, in cycling lingo, a t-shirt, hotel rooms and luggage transport for the durations of the ride, and on-the-road snacks and meals. Months of pre-ride training followed.

Before he began his R2R training, Crain, an avid cyclist, normally rode an average of about 70 miles a week. He put together a training program that saw him gradually increase his weekly mileage to more than 120 miles a week, making an effort to ride substantial distances on consecutive days. When he arrived at the San Antonio starting point of the Texas Challenge, he said he felt he was "definitely ready to roll."

Crain and the contingent of wounded warrior cyclists began Day 1 of the R2R with a ceremony at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center to music being played by the Army Band and with vocal encouragement from the University of Connecticut cheerleaders, who were in town for the NCAA Final Four.

"We rolled out of San Antonio, with the wind at our backs, headed to San Marcos," he recalled. The 55-mile stretch, Crain recalled, was fairly unremarkable except for the company. Crain said he got to know many of the injured Soldier-cyclists with and for whom he was riding.

"I was really amazed by their positive attitude," he commented.

The end of the first day was punctuated by a spaghetti dinner at a San Marco American Legion hall. Day 2, according to the report Crain disseminated daily on Facebook, dawned with clouds and drizzle. The ride covered approximately 50 miles from San Marcos to Austin.

"(The) heavy mist...quickly turned from mist to drizzle to downpour. Fortunately it was fairly warm," he wrote. Some of the riders, he said, began to experience some difficulty in the deteriorating weather. Crain, and many of the other "able-bodied" cyclists faded back to offer assistance and encouragement to their comrades-in-cycling who had slowed in the rain.

"The traffic (in Austin) was a little scary, but we had Patriot Guard motorcycles riding in support," he wrote. Crain as the pack entered Austin, the route took it past a middle school. Students lined the road side cheering the wounded warriors on as they rode into the city.

Joining the R2R riders in Austin was Army Chief of Staff General George Casey. He personally greeted the riders at a Day 2 dinner, and joined them on the road on the following morning. Tuesday's rain, however, heralded a springtime cold front, and the weather on Wednesday, Day 3 - Austin to Fort Hood -- came as something of a shock to Crain and the other riders.

"The weather," Crain wrote, "was clear, sunny, and COLD (and) we had to fight a 15-mph headwind all day (for 67 miles)." Crain said that even with the assistance of Austin Police Department motorcycle officers as well as the Patriot Guard, the morning traffic in Austin resulted in an accident.

In an apparent attempt to protect the riders, one of the escort motorcyclists actually pulled into the path of the cyclists. Two riders collided with the motorcycle. Their bicycles were destroyed, by the riders rejoined the R2R group the following day after a stop at an Austin hospital.

McClung joined the R2R group in Austin, and rode with it all the way to Fort Hood. Cantrell fell in south of Fort Hood.

"I got to talk with several of the wounded warriors during the day," McClung recalled. "I was really moved by the stories they had to tell." Cantrell said the high point of his part of the Day 3 ride came in assisting some of the hand cyclists up some of the taxing climbs on the rolling hills between Austin and Fort Hood.

Piloting the half dozen or so hand cycles in the ride were perhaps the most profoundly injured participants in the R2R, those who had sustained paralyzing trauma, and double amputees. Although they were perfectly able to crank the hand-operated "pedals", the three-wheeled hand cycles had trouble negotiating hills.

To compensate the low-slung cycles are equipped with a push handle that extends sideways from their rear frames. Bicyclists took turns helping to push the hand cycles up the steeper inclines on the tour.

"I worked with one guy, and we just flew up those hills. We were passing people. Those hand cycle riders are amazing," Cantrell said. Dinner on Day 3 was hosted by Fort Hood Acting Commanding General MG William Grimsly. Day 4 - Fort Hood to Waco - was the longest day of the R2R tour, covering 72 miles.

But, it may have been the most inspiring.

After a pep talk at Fort Hood's III Corps Headquarters by Deputy Commanding General BG Peter Atkinson, the R2R rode a serpentine route from the III Corps building to the air field gate, a distance of a little more than three miles, through a gauntlet of shoulder-to-shoulder Soldiers.

"It was absolutely amazing," McCart recalled. "Everywhere we went, Soldiers were reaching out to give us high fives, cheering us on...it was really inspiring."

As Crain and the main body of the R2R group pressed on toward Waco, McClung, Landmann and McCart turned back to return to work.

"Even as we rode back, just the three of us, every time we'd see a group of Soldiers, we'd get a round of 'hooahs', and 'great job's," Landmann said. "It was a tremendous show of support for those in the R2R who had given so much in service to the country."

The end of Day 4 found the R2R riders at the Waco Veterans Center where they were greeted with welcoming remarks from U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Waco). R2R Day 5 took the cyclists from Waco to Cleburne.

"It was just a great ride," Crain said, "the weather stayed favorable, and the roads were mostly smooth." Mist and cool breezes greeted the riders on the final day of the journey.

"We rolled out for the last time," Crain said, "...and we stopped briefly in the town of Keene. They held a small ceremony there to thank these veterans I rode with for their service and sacrifices. They had a local girl sing the national anthem, and I don't believe I've ever heard a better rendition of it. The girl's voice was amazing."

When the group arrived at its final destination, the Soldier-cyclists were honored in opening ceremonies at the Texas Rangers-Seattle Mariners baseball game. Crain watched as double amputee Duane Wagner threw out the first pitch to the cheers of the fans.

At lunch, that day, Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan greeted the riders, visited with them, and signed autographs. Would he ride those 355 miles again' Crain answered with a resounding "yes". His four CTSF colleagues also said they'd participate in next year's ride in support of the wounded warriors who overcame their life-changing injuries to make the trip.

"Those six days," Crain said, "were an amazing and humbling experience. The indomitable spirit of those young Soldiers who have sacrificed so much had to be seen to be fully appreciated. It is men and women like these who make this such a great country."