Ride 2 Recovery: Day 2 Manassas to Fredericksburg‏

by Ride 2 Recovery

The Riders awoke to cloudy skies and occasional rain. Not exactly the way everyone hoped to start day 2 of the Memorial Challenge. With group morale at a high level, the riders and staff actually looked forward towards the ride to Fredericksburg. The 55 miles ride was relatively flat with 1 sharp 10% climb just before the arrival to the hotel.

The Battle of Fredericksburg was remembered as one of the most one-sided battles of the American Civil War. It brought an early end the Union campaign against the Confederate capital of Richmond.


US Marine Adam Jahnke on his R2R Bicycle

After a long wait, the Ride 2 Recovery has finally unveiled the brand new Ride 2 Recovery bicycle. It is an all carbon frame and fork with Shimano black group and wheels, Michelin Tires and Cane Creek head parts.

The bike were made possible with a grant from the USO and the support of former Giant product manager, Kevin Cox. The bikes feature a USO logo and corporate slogan. The bikes are given to the wounded warriors under a permanent loan program. The bikes have a retail value of $2700. 


USO Canteen is a welcome daily site

There are several new wounded heroes that will be receiving these bikes and their mental and physical rehab enhanced by participating in the R2R program. One of these heroes is Tony Davis from Ft. Lee WTU. Davis is part of a demolition recovery team. In his capacity, he is required to retrieve blown up US Military equipment such as a Hum Vee after an IED explosion. Often times, this work comes during the course of the battle. This is extremely dangerous work. Davis has had 3 tours to Iraq and had both knees injured during the retrieval of a Hum Vee.


Greg Boyle, Commander of US Marine Wounded Warrior program

Davis also has some PTSD from the exposure to all the death associated with retrieving the blown up vehicles, with the deaths that are involved with those attacks. He also brings back the bloody personal effects of those fallen heroes.


Tony Davis (far left) riding up the final climb.

Davis had a shaky first day as he got used to the physicality that the ride entails. With his knee injuries, he is not able to run of do other types of cardio exercise. Cycling is the perfect way for him to get back into shape after his surgeries. On day 2, he was able to keep up with the main group and had a big smile on his face as he pulled into the hotel. He was sharing his stories at dinner tonight at American Legion Post 320.

Regards,
Ride 2 Recovery
Making a Difference in the Lives of Wounded Warriors
818.888.7091×1
818.710.1453 Fax
www.Ride2Recovery.com

You can also follow the ride by joining our Facebook Ride 2 Recovery group.

Supporters include American Legion Auxiliary, USO, Star Trac, VFW, Otis Spunkmeyer, Sunkist, Giant Bicycles, League of American Bicyclists, Operation Rebound, American Legion Riders, Step Up 4 Vets, California American Legion, Coca-Cola, Shimano, Veltec Sports, Hincapie Sports, Alternative Vehicles, Hansen’s, Clif Bar, Rudy Project, DeFeet, Park Tool, Speedplay, ProMax, Chamois Butt’r, CytoSport, and Bicycling Magazine. R2R is an America Supports You Homefront Group.


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Posted May 27th 2009 at 12:53 pm in Military | 49 Comments