Bike the Bessemer 2023: The Largest Yet

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As the cool of the morning faded with the rising of the sun over the St. Charles Mesa, a group of nearly 150 cyclists embarked on the third annual Bike the Bessemer. Within minutes of departing, the energetic group cruised east beside fields of the famous Pueblo Chile on a gravel farm lane with various tractors and heavy equipment scattered along the routed shoulder. The immersive 12-mile cycling route juxtaposed century-old farms with the development growth in the region.

Along the way, the tour stopped at three unique locations to hear stories from people who have lived on and worked the land for generations. Each stop of the tour illuminated a distinct aspect of the long legacy of growing food in southern Colorado. Riders toured the historic Williams Seed Store, DiSanti Farms, and the Bessemer Irrigation Ditch. As participants listened and asked thoughtful questions, they gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for a part of Colorado that is often overlooked as people fix their gaze on the high mountain peaks on the western horizon.

After completing the tour loop, conversations filled every corner of St. Joseph’s Parish Hall as everyone enjoyed a farm-to-table lunch prepared with ingredients from the farms the group cycled through. The founder of Diavolo Pueblo and Bingo Burger, Richard Warner, and his crew prepared an incredible menu including a slow-roasted beet and heirloom tomato salad, Martino Ranch meatballs, vegetable lasagna with eggplant, summer squash, roasted peppers, and basil pesto, Pueblo chile bread, Palisade peach and mixed berry buckle. As a meal accompaniment, riders enjoyed fine-crafted beer and spiked seltzer from Upslope Brewing.