CHAMPAIGN – A group of exceptional bicycle riders, many of whom are wounded Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, will be in Champaign-Urbana this week as part of a 3,696-mile tour.

The riders, whose trek is called Sea to Shining Sea, have undertaken the effort to pay tribute to service men and women and challenge perceptions about how Americans see disabled athletes. Some of the 19 cross-country riders have prosthetic limbs, while others with spinal cord injuries or without legs are using specially designed hand-powered bikes. They are from all branches of the service. Among the riders is Paul Bremer, the former diplomat who oversaw Iraq's provisional government in 2003 and 2004.

They are scheduled to arrive in Champaign around 2 p.m. Tuesday. A welcoming ceremony will be held between 2 and 3 p.m. at Hessel Park in Champaign.

The athletes will stay overnight at the Hampton Inn in Urbana and will leave Wednesday morning for an 80-mile ride to Crawfordsville, Ind.

"I'd love to see the streets lined for these guys, I really would," said Tom Graves, a Champaign agent for State Farm Insurance. Bloomington-based State Farm is the corporate sponsor for the ride. "The VFW and the American Legion will be at the park as well as National Guard and Army units," Graves said.

The riders were to arrive in Bloomington on Sunday and have a full rest day there Monday. They are scheduled to leave Bloomington, passing various State Farm buildings, around 9 a.m. Tuesday. They'll travel U.S. 150 between Bloomington and Champaign, taking a water break in LeRoy, having lunch at the American Legion post in Farmer City, taking another water break at the Grace Church in Mahomet and then arriving in Champaign at the intersection of Mattis Avenue and Bloomington Road.

From there, Graves said, the riders will go south on Mattis to University Avenue, then east to Prospect Avenue, then south to Hessel Boulevard and east to Elm Boulevard into Hessel Park.

"The Champaign police will escort them into town and the fire department plans to have a large American flag set up somewhere along the route," Graves said. "And when they get to Hessel Park there will be a banner for everyone to sign. For every signature, $1 will be contributed to Habitat for Humanity by State Farm, up to $200,000 nationwide, to help remodel homes of veterans."

After what is expected to be a brief ceremony at Hessel Park – where small flags will be distributed to everyone in attendance – the group will be transported to the Hampton Inn on University Avenue, where they will spend the night.

"I'm trying to get them a big welcome, as well as a real nice dinner here at the hotel," said Steve Flynn, the sales and marketing manager at the hotel. The dinner is being catered by Town & Country Catering with tables, chairs and umbrellas provided by Twin City Tent and Awning.

"I'm hoping we have a turnout like Bloomington's," he said. "I just don't like to be outdone by Bloomington.

"This is a big deal," said Flynn. "I think sometimes we forget about these guys once they come home. And unless it's put in front of us a lot of this goes on the back burner."

Flynn is not a veteran, he said, but many friends are and his father served with the Army in World War II.

"I think he'd be very happy with what I'm doing," he said. "There was a lot of (attention) when these guys started out (in San Francisco) on the 21st of May. It was on CBS and ABC and NBC, but there haven't been any updates. I think it would have been great to follow them across the country.

"I think we need to thank these guys for what they do."

After their night in Urbana, the riders will take U.S. 150 east through St. Joseph, Ogden and Fithian to Kickapoo State Park, where they will have lunch, then on to Crawfordsville.

The riders plan to end their 63-day journey July 24 at Virginia Beach, Va.

For more information, go to the website http://www.s2ssbikeride.org.