Firefighters mark 9/11 with cross-country cycling journey PUBLISHED 3:56 PM PT Aug. 02, 2021 PUBLISHED 3:56 PM PDT Aug. 02, 2021 SHARE SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Waiting patiently to get the OK to get started on a 40-day, ocean-to-ocean trek across the U.S., the firefighting riders of the Fire Velo cycling club briefly went over where they’d be riding and what the protocols would be after leaving from the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier on Sunday morning. After the affirmatives and the nods — tense with anticipation — were out of the way, the lead rider then looked to the crew and barked, "And don’t screw it up!"