Pedal the Plains, A Rolling Success
Russ Baldwin | Sep 23, 2013 | Comments 0
- Viaero Wireless, Pedal the Plains Sponsor
- Front Row: Bobbi-Chamber, Renee-Pedal Organizer, Kim-LPI, Shawna-Main Street, Wendy-Commissioner, Back Row: Denise-Chamber Pres, John Sutherland-City Administrator, Roger Stagner-Mayor, Joe Garcia-Lt Governor
- Nice and Neat, all in a Row
- Time for Some Sleep at the end of the Trail
- Young Riders Test the Lanes at Savage Stadium
- Champion Corn Shucker, Doug Crandell of Longmont
- Jakob Beakley on Left, A ‘Honey’ of a Salesman for the Fall Festival
- Melissa, Axel, Chana and Wendy Take a Moment for a Snapshot
- Pie Eating Champ
- Bean Bag Toss at the Chamber
- The Boy Scouts 223 Troop Help Out Some Thirsty Riders
- Feathers from the Honkers Makes an Appearance for the Bike Riders
- The Beer Tent Proved to be a Popular Spot
- The Take 5 Jazz Band
- Hungry Riders Enjoy Fried Fish, Hush Puppies and Slaw
Sunny skies, mild temperatures and gentle winds all contributed to a perfect weekend for the Pedal the Plains event held in Lamar this past Friday and Saturday, September 20-21. Bike riders began arriving in Lamar from their starting point in Eads mid afternoon on Friday. Once they checked their bikes at the Lamar Community Building, they had the options of setting up their tent in Savage Stadium, heading for their motel, doing a little downtown shopping during the Fall Festival or taking a brief tour around the town and the entertainment center on East Beech Street, across from the Lamar Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center offices.
Food vendors and others had their cooking areas set up at the Chamber by mid morning and began serving customers through the afternoon until the evening at the beer garden. Viaero, a regional phone company was a co-sponsor of the ride with the Denver Post and ran a brisk trade, offering free phone charges for any cell phone through the afternoon. Other contributors to the ride included the Office of the Governor and the state Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
Patrons enjoyed a variety of music, from the Lamar Notables, DJ Roy Gillespie, Take 5 Jazz Band or some acoustic music from John Abbott, rock and Roll with JUDI and Brethren Flow which closed out the evening on the center state.
Several people signed up for the afternoon pie eating contest, which was messy, to the corn shucking contest which was won by a bike rider from Longmont.
Other vendors lined the roadway during the Fall Festival in downtown Lamar, which featured almost a dozen stores, to those that set up their booths around the entertainment center.
A number of riders and local citizens also took the time to appreciate the mural which was erected at Bicentennial Park in time for the arrival of the riders. Jeremy Cooper, local artist who coordinated the volunteer artists who created the mural, said the City of Lamar and Parks and Recreation Department are developing plans to turn Bicentennial into an art park in the future.
Shawna Hodge, Lamar Main Street Coordinator said on Monday, that a debriefing meeting will be held in about a week’s time to review all the various segments of the event and take a specific headcount of all the participants. During the afternoon, Hodge was presented with a check for $2,000 by State Lieutenant Governor Joseph Garcia who took part in the ride, and Renee Wheelock, Community Relations Manager for the event. The funds will be used to defray some of the entertainment expenses.
By Russ Baldwin
Filed Under: Business • Chamber/Local Business • community • County • Economy • Entertainment • Events • Featured • Festival • Hot Topics • Lamar • Prowers County • Recreation • Sports • Tourism • Transportation
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