Sheppard shines during HHH bike race

  • Published
  • By Dan Hawkins
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Hotter N' Hell bike race roared through Sheppard Air Force Base Aug. 25th, bringing over 14,000 cyclists through the front gates to experience military life up close and personal.

The base has become a rest stop of choice for the Hotter N Hell bike ride, now in its 31st year and the largest sanctioned century bike ride in the country.

Due to the high demand from riders from other race routes during previous years' races to see Sheppard on the rest stop list, this year marked the first time in the race's history every rider got the chance to tour the base.

After entering the base, riders got a chance to roam through "Airpower Alley" and see military aircraft including the F-16, A-10 and C-130.

A little further into the ride took cyclists past the 82nd Training Wing headquarters building into a pit stop at the Community Activities Center for refreshments and a break from the sun.

Getting the chance to show off the Air Force mission and interact with the community is one of the highlights of the day.

"It's really important for our base to open up to our community," said 2nd Lt. Tabitha Postupack, 82nd Communications Squadron operations flight and base Hotter N' Hell coordinator. "It's also us showing our appreciation for them and they get to see what we do on a daily basis."

After a quick rest, riders roll through the aforementioned Airmen's Alley before heading off base to continue their ride.

"We love going through here," said Steve Witherspoon, a second time Hotter N' Hell cyclist.  "The jets and everybody cheering...its great!"

To pull off such an amazing experience for race participants, all the credit has to go to Team Sheppard.

"The base looks great, couldn't be better," said Maj. Gen. Mike Skinner, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of Air Education of Training Command and Hotter N' Hell participant.  "(We) really appreciate the way the folks at Sheppard are showing off what our Air Force is."