Potomac — Cycling Potomac's River Road is not for the weak.

Hills on River Road can drop the equivalent of 10 stories in a mile, only to lead cyclists to the next steep climb of equal height. On Labor Day, one group of cyclists was reaching speeds of 50 miles per hour on the descents and then attacking the next hill. Some members of the group had no legs.

Labor Day weekend, Dr. Barbara Springer, a physical therapist and retired Army officer, trained and rode on River Road with a group of veterans, taking part in challenge rides requiring 300-350 miles of training each week.

This week, Springer flies to Germany to educate the German military what the Ride2Recovery and its Project Hero program is accomplishing with America's veterans.

"I see people at the bedside when they first come to the veteran's hospitals," said Springer, of Potomac. "And when they reach this stage of their rehabilitation, it's eye opening." As of June 11, 2012, 48,505 U.S. Military personnel had been wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a scientific paper by Springer.

Ride 2 Recovery was founded in 2008 when a recreational therapist with the Veterans Administration thought cycling would be an alternative therapy to rehabilitation programs for PTSD, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and physical injuries.

He called John Wordin, former manager of the Mercury Cycling Team, and "the first R2R Challenge event was on," according to Ride2Recovery's press materials.

The program enhances "the physical and psychological recovery of our nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans through the sport of cycling," according to Springer, who has written scientific articles about the medical benefits of cycling on the rehabilitation process. "Ride 2 Recovery’s most notable endeavor is Project HERO (Healing Exercise Rehabilitation Opportunity) which uses staff members and volunteers to promote cycling as an integral part of rehabilitation at select military facilities to enhance physical, psychological, spiritual and social recovery."

The program expanded from the first Challenge ride to seven Challenges annually, including one in Europe, with 200 riders and 20+ staff riding 350-500 miles.

The physical, mental, emotional and social benefits is all vital to the rehabilitation process. The benefits to injured active duty and retired service members was palpable and incredible, said Springer and Debora Sprano, spokesperson for the program.

"When they get here, they can reestablish the camaraderie with liked-minded people. They bond over that," said Sprano. "When they were wounded, they were removed from their unit and taken away from their brothers."

One participant said: "The R2R events allow me to be around the foundation of why we were all or now in the military. Focused intent/mission, brotherhood of like-minded individuals, teamwork, aggressive, motivated folks able to connect and bond through sharing physical and mental challenge through cycling. It just doesn't get much better than that."

"Being part of the team, unit, organization, movement, which lifts spirits, health, and wellness, to accomplish incredible feats of effort is life lifting," said another.

Ride2Recovery and its programs have distributed more than 3,000 bikes to veterans of wide ranges of disabilities and injuries, said Sprano.

Project Hero was created to enhance, inspire, and challenge Healing Heroes’ rehabilitation by introducing them to Ride 2 Recovery. "Hosted at military installations and VA facilities, each participant sets individual goals while working in a group. In partnership with local facility staff and cadre, the Project HERO provides personalized and progressive cycling programs that fits the needs of the patient population and promotes a fuller and quicker rehabilitation."

In 2008, 55 participants rode in Ride2Recovery events in California and Washington D.C. and 20 cycles were distributed. Last year, 1,200 riders participated in rides throughout the year and 450 cycles were distributed.

Specialized mechanics with the program adapt cycles for anyone.

One veteran with three amputated limbs was training on River Road Labor Day weekend, passing the 50 miles per hour speed limit on downgrades, and pushing forward on River Road's upgrades.

Key events for R2R include the 9/11 American Challenge which started near Ground Zero and finished at the Pentagon, Normandy Challenge which traced the steps of D-Day and subsequent battles, and the signature annual events, California Challenge from San Francisco to LA along the coast and the Memorial Challenge from D.C. to Virginia Beach. Other Challenges have been held in the Bluegrass states, Colorado, Gulf Coast, Great Lakes, New England and Texas.

"A Challenge pushes participants to their limit, both physically and mentally. These Challenges bring active duty military and injured veterans from all branches of the U.S. military to ride in a group of 150-200 cyclists providing a sense of normalcy, accomplishment, pride, camaraderie and relief from depression and other problems that accompany their recovery and rehabilitation," according to press materials.

"It's really about physical and mental rehabilitation, being with a group of people people again is a huge step towards the healing process," said Sprano.

"I've seen people do a complete turn around," said Springer.