Desert Springs Physical Therapy and Southwest Bone & Joint Institute have teamed up in the clinical setting and are also partnering to back the Gila Monster Gran Fondo as the co-title sponsors of this year’s ride.

The local cyclists and medical professionals behind these merging practices are continuing the legacy of sustained support for the region’s recreational and competitive cycling scene.

The Gila Monster Gran Fondo presented by Desert Springs Physical Therapy and Southwest Bone & Joint Institute is set for October 7, 2023. The ride is designed to be fun for people who ride bikes to get fresh air as much as for those who ride to win.

“You can be as competitive as you want to be with the gran fondo, but it’s more about getting people and community together and enjoying the experience,” says Southwest Bone & Joint Institute’s Dr. Brian Robinson, who has enjoyed cycling as an escape from his day-to-day worries as well as an outlet for competition. “When I moved back to Silver, my oldest son Michael and I started doing the Tours of the Gila. Prior to that we’d just done mountain biking.”

Suzanne Graves historically sponsored the gran fondo through her Desert Springs Physical Therapy practice, and now her practice is combined with Southwest Bone and Joint Institute. “It has been such a pleasure to, in a small way, help sponsor such an important event for Silver City. I look forward to the Tour of the Gila ever year and appreciate that our city is still able to host it.”

Graves rides the Gila Monster Gran Fondo for the joy of it while also earning a spot on the podium. “I love being part of such a community of volunteers and people who give so generously of their time and resources.”

Robinson, whose practice will assume the title sponsorship in the future, agrees. “We’re all cyclists. It makes sense to continue this support moving forward.”

While southwestern New Mexico cyclists like Robinson and Graves relish in the windy roads and trails through the Gila National Forest everyday, the Gila Monster Gran Fondo is an opportunity for people who live elsewhere to have the experience that competitive cyclists enjoy as the highlight of their racing season. “It gives you a taste of that,” Robinson says.

From a medical perspective, the benefits of cycling are endless. In addition to being an excellent cardiovascular exercise that helps people lose weight and recover from injury, Robinson says, “It’s a low impact sport on the joints.”

And riding through Gila region amps up those benefits even more. “In Silver City, which offers cycling in a picturesque landscape, you get the benefit of varied terrain. You can go for steep climbs. There are some flats around here–very few. You get to cycle at a higher altitude so that’s good for your aerobic conditioning,” Robinson says.