Here Come the Riders!!
Russ Baldwin | Sep 18, 2013 | Comments 0
Lamar may experience a brief traffic snarl for a while this Friday afternoon, September 20, when approximately 1,000 bicyclists converge on the city for the second annual Pedal the Plains event in Colorado. Southeast Colorado was selected as the destination for 2013 with riders making a weekend loop from Eads, to Lamar, to La Junta and back to Eads for the final leg of their tour.
The coordination required to bring the riders into town and back out again is comprehensive, but have been planned in advance by the program organizers. Volunteers, vendors, medical personnel, support staff, mechanics, lead cars, luggage carriers and more will go through their well-practiced routine to make the tour an enjoyable event for everyone involved.
For Lamar, the rider’s headquarters will be at the Lamar Community Building and Savage Stadium for their overnight stay, Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. Following their breakfast, the riders will be on their way to La Junta. The entertainment site will be along East Beech Street at the Lamar Welcome Center and Chamber of Commerce.
The riders conduct their journey in time-staggered groups as a safety measure, so motorists don’t have to content with 1,000 bikes on the road at one time. By the same token, they won’t arrive in Lamar in a pack of 1,000 but will be spread out between approximately noon to 4pm this Friday. The riders will be coming down the May Valley Road, heading into Lamar from the KLMR corner. Once they’re unpacked and secured for their overnight stay, they’ll be hungry, thirsty and looking for a chance to enjoy some high plains hospitality before they’re on the road by 9am Saturday.
Local chamber and business leaders are hoping the experience will showcase the area for history, culture, landscape and agricultural climate…aspects of rural life not often visible to Front Range residents. On the visibility note, residents can view the mural that was created using some funding available from the Pedal the Plains organizers and local donors. Local artists, including numerous students from area schools, contributed their ideas and expertise to develop artwork on mural panels representing our local culture. They were just completed and erected at the corner of Centennial Park to be viewed by future visitors to our community.
By Russ Baldwin
Filed Under: Art • Business • Chamber/Local Business • community • Economy • Entertainment • Events • Featured • Prowers County • Public Safety • Recreation • Tourism
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