Cyclists ride more than 200 miles to honor Air Force’s 75th birthday

  • Published
  • By Andrew C. Patterson
  • 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Air Force Cycling Team hosted the inaugural Memorial to Memorial bicycle ride Sept. 15-18 from the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

The M2M ride brought more than 90 cyclists from the Air Force and Space Force together over three days to celebrate the Air Force's 75th Anniversary. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr., joined the riders on the last day and led a two-by-two formation of cyclists during the final mile to the Air Force Memorial site.


"I can't thank you enough for connecting with communities and talking to folks about the Air Force," Brown said.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman, who rode from Quantico, Virginia, to the Air Force Memorial, thanked the AFCT for hosting the ride, raising awareness of the Air Force’s 75th birthday.

Retired Brig. Gen. Robert Beletic, former vice commander, 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern), and former Air Force chief of staff retired Gen. Dave Goldfein were the brainchildren behind the M2M’s creation.

“The purpose of the M2M is to have fun, celebrate our heritage, promote fitness, camaraderie, recruiting, and support our wounded brethren,” Beletic said. "We can track our roots back to two bicycle mechanics tinkering in a garage. From bike trails to contrails and beyond!"

The ride from Kitty Hawk to Arlington is approximately 267 miles. The AFCT plans to host the M2M ride annually to celebrate the Air Force’s heritage.

For more information on the AFCT or the M2M, visit the AFCT’s site.