Challenges are multi-day events that cover 350-450 miles. A Challenge will push the participant to their limit, both physically and mentally. Paid participation in a full Challenge ride includes hotel housing, limited rider support, luggage transportation (70lbs max), daily route guides, marked course, rest stops, snacks, meals. There may also be nighttime entertainment on selected evenings. You may also participate in any single day of a Challenge event.

2015 will be the seventh year that Ride 2 Recovery returns to the Lone Star State for the Texas Challenge. Highlights include riding through Fort Hood with thousands of troops lining the roads on Tuesday and a homemade Texas-style breakfast prepared by the Keene community on Friday. On Saturday, April 25th, in Fort Worth, the public is invited to ride with the injured veterans in the one-day Honor Ride in memory of Sgt. Clay Hunt. Hunt, who served as a Marine Corps sniper in Iraq and Afghanistan, battled depression and post-traumatic stress before taking his own life in March 2011. With nearly 500 miles of cycling, this is a great second location for the Ride 2 Recovery Challenge Series presented by UnitedHealthcare.

One of the iconic Ride 2 Recovery events, the Memorial Challenge, starts in our nation’s capitol and heads south for five days through historic Virginia with overnight stops in Manassas, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. At the end of the 325-mile Memorial Challenge, participants are hosted by the USO at the annual Patriotic Festival for the Air Show and evening concert. Ride 2 Recovery is pleased to announce the final day of this Challenge will feature the 2nd Annual Ride 2 Recovery Warrior Grand Prix. This unique cycle race will give injured veterans and the general public an opportunity to compete for pride and glory.

The European Challenge this year will start in Holland and the start of the Tour de France and then traveling to Germany city of Warendorf, home of the German Military wounded warrior center. While in Holland, participants will visit the WWII area of the Operation Market Garden failed offensive where the allies tried to secure several bridges into Germany to shorten the war.

450 miles of stunning beaches and landscape from the city of Palo Alto to the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center are featured in the 8th annual California Challenge. This is one of the most challenging of the Ride 2 Recovery events with climbs up Big Sur and Stagecoach Pass followed by fast descents. After the strenuous days, cyclists will overnight in Santa Cruz, Carmel, San Simeon, Pismo Beach, Solvang and Ventura before finishing in West LA. In addition to the stunning ocean views along the route, participants will also ride through a portion of 17-Mile Drive in Carmel and the Los Padres National Forest.

Special Events are meant to provide a rehabilitative experience for Healing Heroes that is similar to Ride 2 Recovery’s Challenge Series but in a unique location with different and distinctive activities. Generally, these events require advanced fitness and abilities compared to the Challenge Series.

During the summer of 2015, the SPS cyclists are riding 3,900 miles across the country from Washington State through the northern part of the country and finishing in New Hampshire; all to raise funds and awareness about Ride 2 Recovery and our Healing Heroes.

Ride 2 Recovery is excited to announce the Fall event in our Women's Initiative, Our Fall event for beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders will be held at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort in Sanger, CA on Nov. 1-5, 2015. The R2R Women’s Initiative is a unique, mental and physical rehabilitation effort specifically design to help and support those female service members who have experienced any type mental or physical injury. The Initiative seeks to create a setting that allows for healing, growth, and learning in the same cycling-centric R2R format, but with a female focus.

Ride 2 Recovery's Women in the Military Empowerment Week As part of May's National Military Appreciation Month, Ride 2 Recovery will host a Women's Initiative in partnership with the Amgen Tour of California Cycling Race and the City of Lake Tahoe. The event will begin on May 4, 2015 and will culminate with an Honor Ride and the Amgen Tour of California's Women's Pro Circuit Race on May 9th. R2R's Women's Initiative provides support for women who are survivors of mental and physical trauma they endured while in the military. Prominent women from the military, sports, business, and political fields will gather for a week of female mentorship, healing, and growth.

This is the fourth year for the R2R Las Vegas MTB Adventure. Injured veterans who would like to give mountain biking a try as well as those who would like to participate in the Leadville 100 MTB race are encouraged to register. The ride takes place near Blue Diamond on the trail system of Red Rock Conservation Area. The best features of this trail system, which was carved by wild horses, are the twists and turns on the single-track through a forest of Joshua trees. There will be at least 3 ability groups so first-time mountain bike riders are welcome to apply. As there is a limited amount of rental bikes available, you are strongly encouraged to bring your own mountain bike.