3 Keesler bikers cross Iowa with Air Force team Published Aug. 27, 2009 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- For three Keesler cyclists there's nothing like a seven-day, 464-mile bike ride across southern Iowa. Naomi Henigin, 81st Training Wing; Michael Hubert , 334th Training Squadron; and Alan Petz, 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, participated in the 37th Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa from July 19-25 as members of the Air Force Cycling Team. In addition, David Hunt, 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, provided planning and logistical support for the Keesler trio. They joined six cyclists from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., cyclists to create the "Gulf Coast Team" element of the 130 Air Force Cycling Team riders and about 20 support people. The Keesler cyclists traveled to Burlington, the end point, in Hubert's "broken truck," meeting up with the Eglin riders. They boarded a bus to Council Bluffs, on the Nebraska border and the event starting point. Petz said, "There were a lot of people (on the ride), probably 10,000, with about 8,500 registered week-long riders and another 1,500 registered daily riders, not to mention the unregistered 'renegades' who would join in." They averaged about 75 miles a day. Neither the two days it rained nor a mini-tornado dampened their spirits. The tornado blew through one day, heading straight for the Air Force team's "bivouac" area where it swept away several tents, including Petz's. Henigin recalled "running down to Kmart to pick up another tent." Hunt noted, "It's tough to get going when it's raining." However, the ride itself was fairly uneventful for the Keesler riders. Petz recalled being forced off the road a couple of times by other riders. "There are vendors on both sides of the road and riders would turn without watching so you'd have to go off the road with them." Henigin, who participated in last year's RAGBRAI, "didn't even drop a chain" this year and is ready to go again. This was the first time for Petz and Hubert, who made the ride with an injured foot and underwent surgery after returning from the event. Hubert hopes to participate again, but this may have been the last RAGBRAI for Petz for a few years; he leaves for a new assignment to Osan Air Base, Korea, in October. Hunt was one of the five Keesler members of last year's Air Force team to ride in the event. He mentioned this year's Air Force Team included Maj. Gen. Ralph Jodice, commander of the Air Force District of Washington, and his wife, who rode the entire route with the team. RAGBRAI is sponsored by the Des Moines Register newspaper. Starting in 1973 with approximately 300 participants, it has since blossomed into an annual Midwestern celebration and pilgrimage.