6000 Feet over 85 miles…. Enchanted Circle coming August 2025

 

6000 Feet over 85 miles…. Enchanted Circle coming August 2025

I'm excited to announce that after the flat Tarwheel ride in North Carolina (8 weeks and counting), with only 500 feet of climbing, I will be taking on a challenging ride in New Mexico this August. This ride features 6,000 feet of elevation gain, twelve times more than the Tarwheel course. Why did I choose such a demanding event to end the summer? I'm eager to push my limits and experience the contrast.  Then again, I might just be a little crazy or a lot, depending on your definition.  

This August, I am heading to Red River, New Mexico, for the most challenging ride of my life at the Enchanted Circle Ride. At one point on this ride, you are climbing 2,000 feet over 17 miles. My previous best was 2,000 feet over 50 miles with varied terrain. It's daunting, but I'm excited to prepare my mind, body, and soul for this challenge.  

I am making numerous adjustments in preparation for this goal, including significantly reducing my television consumption (with one notable exception). Watching television has become a detrimental habit for me, often resulting in two hours of unproductive time each night accompanied by mindless snacking. This mindless eating does not support my objective of getting up that damn mountain.  It is important to fuel my body properly for such a large endeavor.

Instead, I now allocate my evenings to more constructive activities such as solving word puzzles, reading, and studying bicycle mechanics. Consequently, my nights have become more productive. I am also exploring opportunities to enroll in classes and actively seeking ways to socialize and make new acquaintances around town.

During the winter months, I primarily rely on indoor training to maintain my cycling regimen. Although it is less enjoyable than outdoor rides, it is a preferable alternative to navigating snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures. I had forgotten how cold Indiana winters can be. I have permitted myself to watch television while using the indoor trainer to ensure that I remain committed to my exercise routine. Without this concession, it is likely that I would struggle to stay motivated. Indoor cycling can be exceedingly monotonous; thus, allowing television in the upstairs gym during rides ensures that the activity remains tolerable.

Jenn is training me for altitude by using heat. I initially thought she meant riding outside in the heat, but she meant spending time in a sauna. I enjoy saunas, so that’s fine. I bought a sauna tent for our gym. She also meant riding with a heater blowing on you.  That is the tough part, riding with a space heater blowing in my face. We currently do this for 15 minutes. As someone who dislikes being hot, it is uncomfortable, but manageable. There is a science behind why I am doing this, something about blood cells and the heat replicates altitude.  She told me all about it, but I forgot the details. I spend a lot of time in front of space heaters these days.

I decided to put the sauna tent in the gym over the back porch.  I figured there would be less change of ticks getting into the sauna tent upstairs.  Sure, the little bastards can ride Kona in if they dare.  I hope they don’t.  We didn’t have that issue last year.  However, since being back in Indiana, I have had my fill of ticks and other critters, but that is a story for another day.  

I am excited to visit New Mexico. I have not been there since I was 14, when I spent time in Albuquerque with my father's cousin Bob and his wife. It was quite a trip with drama at a restaurant over cigarettes and cigars, and then being kicked out of a blockbuster video, once again over cigarettes and cigars. I am 99.99% sure this trip won’t include any cigarettes and/or cigars.  Although after this trip, I will have ridden in at least five states, marking off 10% of the states off my list.