On September 13th, thousands of cyclists, including Baseline’s own Steve Batchelder, PE, set off to bike over a hundred miles of Colorado’s flat country for the Denver Post’s Pedal the Plains event. Pedal the Plains is the shorter, flatter counterpart to the Ride the Rockies that takes place in early summer. It takes riders through three different communities throughout the plains and celebrates Colorado’s frontier and agricultural heritage. As with the Ride the Rockies, proceeds go to the Denver Post Community Foundation which is a non-profit that gives back to programs in the host communities. The route is unique each year, and for 2019 it featured the towns of Lamar, Holly, and Springfield.

 

 

Governor Jared Polis kicked-off the ride in Lamar, the 2019 HQ, at the Opening Ceremony. Riders began the weekend with a 43.6 mile ride to Holly, where entertainment, food, and lodging were waiting. Pedal the Plains’ goal is to create “an opportunity for cyclists from the Front Range and beyond to learn about farming and ranching, while experiencing the culture, history and landscape of Colorado’s high plains. Host communities are key to this goal serving local food at each of the stops and providing other local entertainment and points of interest. Holly’s stop notably featured brisket, pulled pork, ribs, pickled okra, and baked beans. Riders could also take a Town Tractor Hayride Shuttle around the town which included a historical tour. As is tradition with these two events, each stop included a beer garden where riders can go to relax and unwind.

The second day is the longest of the three as participants make their way to Springfield. Riders had two route options: the century option, which took riders on a 108-mile trek through parts of Kansas, or the regular route which was still a long 73 miles. After a long day, riders were treated to a hamburger dinner with baked potatoes by the Bent-Prowers-Baca Cattle and Horse Growers Association. Throughout the night, different musicians performed for all of the riders and tourists pouring in to the town. Bands included Little Wing Band, Floyd Beard, and Bill “Three Feathers” Bunting. Holly also hosted historian Kent Brooks who gave a presentation titled “Cowboys, Dirt, and Brooms.” The next day riders began their last section of the ride – 47 miles back to Lamar. The weekend concluded with celebrations in Lamar. Festivities included plenty of food, music, and activities celebrating the spirit of Colorado’s plains communities. Overall Steve rode 164 miles throughout the entire weekend, and the Denver Post Foundation will be able to give out tens of thousands of grants to the communities featured on the ride.