Wounded warriors hit the road

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - When you first learned to ride a bike, you probably felt you could do anything. Well, that's exactly how many wounded veterans felt when they put rubber to the road Thursday. 

Bob Racine founded " The Warrior Ride ". During the multi-day cycling event, wounded warriors take to bicycles adapted to accommodate their injuries.

Staff Sergeant Carlton Duncan, who was wounded in Iraq, said, "For some of us, even myself, it's a challenge."

Although challenging, the Warrior Ride is not about finishing first.

"It's kind of getting out of your shell and out of the norm of just sitting in the barracks...and then letting the public know that we're still doing good things with ourselves, even though we were injured in training or combat," Staff Sergeant Carlton Duncan explained.

Portsmouth native Michael Coleman was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan last year and uses hand pedals to propel his adaptive-cycle.

"It's a good workout. It'll get you going. Get the blood flowing," Coleman said.

And the 30 mile ride will do just that, but the ride benefits participating wounded warriors in another way - it teaches them something about themselves.

"...we can do basically anything. There's no reason to stop living," Coleman beamed.

Racine added, "The craziest thing is the fact that they ride 30 miles the first time they ride a bicycle, where most people would get on a bicycle and ride three blocks and quit."

The encouragement provided along the way is another reason Racine started the ride.

"To make our service members who have been injured aware that they are supported by our communities," Racine explained.

You can be a part of that support system on April 28 as the Warrior Ride participates in the Parade of Nations in downtown Norfolk, beginning at 10 a.m.