News>Feature - Promoting the Air Force, one pedal pump at a time
Photos
Lt. Cols. David Henshaw, 28th Operations Support Squadron director of operations, and Derek Leivestad, 28th Bomb Wing deputy chief of safety, ride their bikes across Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., July 17, 2012 to train for the Air Force cycling team’s annual trip to the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa on July 22. The route changes every year, but the ride begins somewhere along Iowa’s western border on the Missouri River and ends along the eastern border on the Mississippi River. Eight Iowa cities serve as host communities for overnight stays along the way. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Hada/Released)
Lt. Col. Derek Leivestad, 28th Bomb Wing deputy chief of safety, ride across Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., July 17, 2012 while training for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa event on July 22. Every year, Airmen from all around the world sign up for the Air Force cycling team’s annual participation in RAGBRAI. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Hada/Released)
Lt. Cols. David Henshaw, 28th Operations Support Squadron director of operations, and Derek Leivestad, 28th Bomb Wing deputy chief of safety, ride around Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., July 17, 2012 while training for the Air Force cycling team’s annual participation in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa on July 22. The Air Force highlights the AF Cycling Team’s participation in RAGBRAI as a recruiting tool, similar to the AF Marathon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Hada/Released)
Lt. Cols. Derek Leivestad, 28th Bomb Wing deputy chief of safety, and David Henshaw, 28th Operations Support Squadron director of operations, assess the proposed route prior to hitting the road at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., July 17, 2012. The two cyclists are training for Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa on July 22. RAGBRAI, started in 1973 by two Des Moines Register columnists, is the oldest, largest, and longest bicycle touring event in the world and now encompasses seven days of riding, averaging 468 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Hada/Released)
by Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
7/23/2012 - ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The result of more than five months of relentless training and conditioning for two Ellsworth Airmen will be recognized with that first pedal stroke starting a seven-day journey through the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa July 22.
Every year, Airmen from around the world sign up for the Air Force cycling team's annual trip to ride in RAGBRAI, and the event attracts the attention of competitive athletes eager to take on a new challenge.
For Lt. Cols. Derek Leivestad, 28th Bomb Wing deputy chief of safety, and David Henshaw, 28th Operations Support Squadron director of operations, this will be their first ride with the Air Force cycling team.
"I started riding before I graduated the Air Force Academy in 1993 as a way to stay in shape, and although I still ride to stay in shape, it has more meaning for me now," said Leivestad, 41. "When I am riding, I can forget everything else and get lost in the ride. It is my release."
The pair have been training for the event through a variety of activities. For example, both recently completed the 2012 Mickelson Trail Half-Marathon at Deadwood, S.D. After tackling RAGBRAI, they plan to take on the Harvest Moon Half Iron Man in Aurora, Colo.
"The biggest challenge is trying to balance work, family life and training," said Leivestad. "It is a juggling act to balance my son's soccer and baseball with other family time and work while still getting in the amount of training necessary."
Henshaw, who recently lost 25 pounds after he started commuting to work every day on his bike, said that he enjoys the challenge of competing in physical events, and living a fit and active lifestyle.
"It's great to see improvement as I compete against myself and have the satisfaction of setting and reaching my goals," said Henshaw, who started riding three years ago to improve his health. "Fortunately, RAGBRAI is more of a ride than a race. I focused a bit more on cycling than running and swimming over the past few months, but haven't done as many long rides as I would have liked. I'm basically a novice in cycling, and this will definitely be the longest week of riding I've ever attempted."
Henshaw said training at a higher elevation in the Black Hills has proven advantageous for his and Leivestad's endurance, saying, "I don't anticipate any trouble logging the miles - should be fun."
The route changes every year, but the ride begins somewhere along Iowa's western border on the Missouri River and ends along the eastern border on the Mississippi River; eight Iowa cities serve as host communities for overnight stays along the way.
"The Air Force uses the cycling team's participation in RAGBRAI as a recruiting tool, similar to the marathon," said Leivestad. "Along the way, we will be meeting different people in the towns we visit and answering questions about our jobs and experiences in the Air Force."
Established in 1973, RAGBRAI began as a six-day ride across the state of Iowa by two Des Moines Register columnists. It has grown into the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world -- now encompassing seven days of riding, averaging 468 miles.
Comments
7/30/2012 10:40:05 PM ET I didn't get the chance to ride this year. From the pictures I have seen and comments I have read I am proud to be former AF. They all did us proud
