PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. -- The 911th Airlift Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center will be holding a 17-mile military bike ride at the Panhandle Trail in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, June 27, 2020.
“With this program, we try to bring people together,” said Robert Ree, director of the 911th A&FRC. “We don't want people to be intimidated when they think of riding a bike with other people.”
Leo McCarthy, a retired police chief of Moon Township and avid cyclist, will be the guide for the bike ride.
“It's not going to be a nonstop ride,” said McCarthy. “No one will be left behind. We don't want someone who's just new to cycling to feel like they're in a race or they have to keep up. So this is a non-stressful bicycle ride.”
The ride will cover 17.2 total miles. Participants will travel the Panhandle trail for 8.6 miles before returning the same way.
“We'll start off on a real high-quality crushed limestone [path],” said McCarthy. “Then it'll be paved for the remainder of the trip until we turn around and come back.”
This will mark the first official bike ride since Pennsylvania lifted restrictions on activities imposed due to COVID-19.
“We're looking forward to the first ride,” said Ree. “COVID-19 slowed us down a little bit, but it's not going to stop us. We have probably about five people signed up already, which is great. So we're on our way to get rolling.”
In the event of inclement weather, the bike ride will be rescheduled to June 28.
All military members, veterans, spouses, and dependents over the age of 18 are welcome to join the military bike ride. Interested parties can email robert.ree.1@us.af.mil or call 412-474-8544 before June 26.