Ride the Rockies cyclists carbo-load courtesy of CPAC
Ride the Rockies cyclists carbo-load courtesy of CPAC
MOFFAT, CO -- Armed with just under a ton of baked potatoes and gallons of toppings, a small army of 30 volunteers from the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee greeted and, for the fourth consecutive year, carbo-loaded some 2,400 participants in the famed Ride the Rockies bicycle tour.
The tour, now in its 21st year, kicked off in the Four Corners city of Cortez, spanned 451 miles in six days and reached elevations of more than 11,000 feet above sea level as it meandered through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and northern New Mexico. Tour volunteer Ed Roberts told The Produce News this was the first time the route crossed into New Mexico.
He also noted that riders come from every state in the nation, although most are from Colorado.
Committee volunteers spent much of the day June 22 here in Moffat, a rural community in the northern reaches of the San Luis Valley that served as the halfway point for the ride's day five. Cyclists left Alamosa and pedaled 84 miles to Salida, crossing Poncha Pass.
The small town's population increased more than tenfold as cyclists filled the park, and a sea of spandex and helmets surrounded the CPAC tent where Purple Majesty purple, Latona gold, Mountain Rose red and russet brown potatoes were served by CPAC Executive Director Jim Ehrlich, Administrator Linda Weyers and dozens of CPAC members and their families.
"Most of the shippers and growers helped with potato donations," Ms. Weyers said.
She continued, "We baked about 3,000 potatoes and served about 2,400. With 39 cartons, each one weighing 50 pounds, we had 1,950 pounds."
In addition to volunteers at the park, another 15 assisted in hauling, wrapping and baking the spuds the day before the Moffat event. Also on hand as a special Spud Ambassador was Mr. Potato Head, who shook hands and posed for photos.
The tour, now in its 21st year, kicked off in the Four Corners city of Cortez, spanned 451 miles in six days and reached elevations of more than 11,000 feet above sea level as it meandered through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and northern New Mexico. Tour volunteer Ed Roberts told The Produce News this was the first time the route crossed into New Mexico.
He also noted that riders come from every state in the nation, although most are from Colorado.
Committee volunteers spent much of the day June 22 here in Moffat, a rural community in the northern reaches of the San Luis Valley that served as the halfway point for the ride's day five. Cyclists left Alamosa and pedaled 84 miles to Salida, crossing Poncha Pass.
The small town's population increased more than tenfold as cyclists filled the park, and a sea of spandex and helmets surrounded the CPAC tent where Purple Majesty purple, Latona gold, Mountain Rose red and russet brown potatoes were served by CPAC Executive Director Jim Ehrlich, Administrator Linda Weyers and dozens of CPAC members and their families.
"Most of the shippers and growers helped with potato donations," Ms. Weyers said.
She continued, "We baked about 3,000 potatoes and served about 2,400. With 39 cartons, each one weighing 50 pounds, we had 1,950 pounds."
In addition to volunteers at the park, another 15 assisted in hauling, wrapping and baking the spuds the day before the Moffat event. Also on hand as a special Spud Ambassador was Mr. Potato Head, who shook hands and posed for photos.
