Team Dover's presence strong at annual biking event

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Veronica A. Aceveda
  • 512th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Several base members participated in Dover's 24th Annual Amish Bike Tour Sept. 11. Wearing Air Force and patriotic attire, 512th Airlift Wing members Lt. Col. Gretchen Kurlander and Tech. Sgt. David Jackson joined 1,300 other cyclists riding through the back roads of Delaware's Amish farmlands.
 
Some of the organizations which will receive proceeds from this year's biking event include the Central Delaware YMCA, the Amish School House Fund and USO Delaware.

Joan Cote, the director for USO Delaware, served as an emcee during the morning ceremonies and manned the USO booth, where volunteers helped patrons show their military pride by adorning them with a temporary USO tattoo.

Before the trek began, riders such as Master Sgt. Brad Bronov, 436th Airlift Wing, lined up at Legislative Mall for a 9/11 tribute and a Blessing of the Bikes ceremony, conducted by Chaplain David Sparks from the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center.

"I'm here, because I love the community and the USO," said Chaplain Sparks. "It's a place where everyone can come together and do something good."

"The USO is a great organization, and they do great things for us," said Colonel Kurlander, who is the 512th Logistics Readiness Flight commander. "They were hosting a part of the morning activities, and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to participate in this event."

Riders could register for various routes ranging from 15 to 100 miles. Colonel Kurlander and Sergeant Jackson chose to ride the 50-mile course. Colonel Kurlander even recruited her 16-year-old son Austen to join them.

"I signed up just to say I did it," said the athlete who wrestles and plays lacrosse for Caesar Rodney High School. "But, my mom did leave out one key factor -- she didn't tell me it was 50 miles, so I'm hoping not to be last."

Before this event, Austen said the longest distance he had ever ridden before was about two miles. His mother, an avid cyclist, has completed several 25-mile events and one 35-mile ride.

Even though, Austen had limited cycling experience, he rode ahead of his mom and Sergeant Jackson most of the way.

Cyclists of all ages and experience levels lined the roads, making their way to a rest area. The LRF commander and Sergeant Jackson, a 512th LRF fuels technician, stopped for about 10 minutes at the 25-mile pit stop. They wouldn't get another break for 17 miles at the Amish School House, where they caught up to Austen.

"Miles 35 through 42 were the toughest," said Colonel Kurlander. "I needed some fuel, and Austen was definitely sore."

At the school house, a band played for hundreds of people and Amish community members served homemade pies and cookies. Team LRF spent about 10 minutes at this stop eating pumpkin and blueberry pie.

With eight miles to the finish line, the trio embarked the final stretch together.

"Toward the end, Sergeant Jackson had actually gone ahead a bit, but he rode back and the three of us crossed the finish line together," said Colonel Kurlander.

"We initially started out as a team, but I had a personal goal for the last eight miles," said Sergeant Jackson. "I wanted to finish those in under 30 minutes. Once I met that goal, I rode back, so we could finish as a team."

They completed the 50-mile course in 3 hours, 31 minutes.

While Austen can officially say he's completed a 50-mile bike race, Colonel Kurlander hopes to see a base team form for next year's Amish Bike Tour.

"There were quite a few of us out here," she said. "It would just be nice to get together with team shirts and bring out all the families. It's a great outdoor activity, very family friendly and beautiful countryside."