THE RIDE ACROSS USA TEAM

INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FLORIDIANS:

Ed Bennett a retired firefighter from Geneva

Ruth D’Autio a customer service representative from Clermont

Keith Sherrick a restaurant franchise owner from Winter Garden

Marion Kusters a surgical nurse from Apopka

Scott Manning a computer programmer from Jacksonville

Tracy Draper a personal trainer from Eustis climb more than 11,400 feet in 105 miles.

Other team members have been training equally hard. In March, 53-year-old Ruth D’Autio of Clermont completed a five-day ride from Maitland to Key West with 12 other cyclists. That is impressive, especially considering she suffered a neck injury last December that kept her off her bike for nearly two months. Still, the setback has not derailed her from being part of Ride Across USA.

“This will be the ultimate adventure,” says Ruth, a customer service representative with The Cycling Hub in Clermont. “I look forward to riding with a great group of people. I’m a little nervous because we do not know the roads, but at the same time I’m excited because we’re exploring new territory. All the sweat and tears will be worth it because we are doing this for veterans.”

Team members have also completed three training rides together of varying lengths — 124 miles, 187 miles, and 254 miles.

“We did this as a team so we can get to know each other’s personalities and riding styles,” Tracy says. “It also helps us bond, and we’ll certainly need each other’s encouragement and support when we are doing the crosscountry ride.”