Bike Ride Across Georgia Rolls in More Than 1,000 Bicyclists

Bicyclists from across the country pedaled into Dublin on Tuesday for the Bike Ride Across Georgia (B.R.A.G.)

Nearly 1,100 riders began their week in Atlanta, and are making their way to Savannah. Riders from 38 states are taking part in the event, which benefits the special olympics of Georgia.

One group of riders is known as the Wounded Warriors. They are military men and women who have been injured in the line of duty. Peyton is an active duty Army soldier. He lost his right leg below his knee. But that hasn’t stopped him from getting on the road to pedal.

“It’s a little tough from time to time. The downhills are pretty good. It’s the uphills that become problems,” Peyton explains about his hand pedal bike.

“It’s pretty interesting. That’s what it is. Very interesting,” Peyton says.

Another man, Joe Totter, is a Type II diabetic. Three years ago, his doctor told him to get fit, or he was going to die.

“I went from being over 340 pounds, pretty much a walking heart attack,” Totter says. “Now, here I am an athlete, riding a bicycle 100 miles. I’ll be honest, I broke down and cried.”

After committing to riding, Totter lost more than 140 pounds, changed his diet, and no longer needs to use medication to control his diabetes.

The riders are camped at Dublin High School in tents, and the gym floor. They bring blow up mattresses, pillows, and sleeping bags for the overnight.

After the riders’ stop in Dublin, they are off to Metter before they finish in Savannah.