Pedal the Plains touts rural Colorado
The Fifth Annual Pedal The Plains Bicycle Tour had its kickoff event in Rocky Ford, September 15, and had a large crowd on-hand who make the ride happen.
The event is a celebration of friends, food and entertainment, as they gathered to celebrate the rural communities across the state.
The Western Dairy Association hosted the evening and the meal featured locally grown ingredients and showcased Colorado Agriculture.
Former Media News Group Chairman Dean Singleton said the idea of Pedal the Plains began with a conversation between himself and Governor John Hickenlooper.
"It was started because we believe the rest of Colorado didn't understand the eastern plains and we needed to put a focal point on the eastern plains," he said. It's grown a lot over the last five years.
"We started out at about 800 riders and now we're up above 1,000," he said. "It's become a very successful event."
They alternate each year between northeastern and southern Colorado.
"So the people get to see the entire eastern Colorado plains," he said. "The race starts in Ordway. Our headquarters are in Lamar and we've got two days of bicycle riding," he said.
The event usually has people down from the Front Range.
"We have people down here who have never been here," he said. "It shows them another part of the state that is very important to us."
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