Wellton's Tour de Fields Returns for 7th Annual Farm Country Bicycle Ride

Butterfield Park in Wellton served as the hub of the Yuma Region Bicycle Coalition's 7th Annual Tour de Fields on Saturday, March 21, with riders choosing from five routes ranging from a 3-mile family loop to a 100-mile endurance challenge through the agricultural fields of the Wellton-Mohawk Valley.

The non-competitive community ride, organized by the coalition as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in partnership with the Town of Wellton, sends cyclists past the winter farmlands that have become the event's signature backdrop. Route options spanned the full spectrum of ability: the 100-mile endurance ride at $65, a 60-mile route at $55, a 30-mile option at $45, a 10-mile ride at $35, and a 3-mile family ride at $25, all starting and finishing at Butterfield Park.

The weekend kicked off Friday evening with a Bike Bash and packet pick-up from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Butterfield Park, where riders collected their materials and connected with volunteers before Saturday's start. The Yuma Region Bicycle Coalition described the Friday gathering as "a relaxed community meet-and-greet at Butterfield Park, giving riders a chance to pick up packets, connect with volunteers, and get ready for the next day's ride." Riders who had not pre-registered online through tourdefields.org or the BikeReg platform could sign up at the Bike Bash if space allowed.

The Town of Wellton has framed Tour de Fields as more than a cycling event. "This highly anticipated community cycling event showcases the beauty of our agricultural landscape while promoting health, recreation, and community engagement," the town's event listing stated. The routes carry riders through what organizers describe as the fertile winter farmlands and open desert views surrounding Wellton, terrain the coalition bills as "the fields that feed America."

For questions about the event, contact Gene Dalbey at (928) 920-8482 or reach the organizing team at info@tourdefields.com.