The Enchanted “Half” Circle: Cycling Tales from New Mexico
New Mexico was beautiful! The views were amazing!
Taken from outside of our VRBO. Looking into downtown Red River. Such a lovely site.
Friday we headed up the mountain to the top of Red River via the chairlift. OMG it had been twenty years since I had gone up a chair lift. I white knuckled it on the way up. My anxiety was through the roof. However, I made it to the top without a complete melt down and again lovely sites to be had.
Red River, New Mexico loves Willy's, Bill's, and Billy's.
The biking in the mountains was hard. The first little hill I road up had me bent over my handle bars gasping for breath and coughing. The altitude was definitely a factor. However, after acclimating to it over the next 48 hours the altitude was not the issue on race day. My tummy however was. I certainly didn't have my best day in the mountains. I mean technically I road the fastest 10 miles in my life coming out of Red River to Questa. I mean it was awesome! I thought I was a real cyclist.
However from Questa to Taos things wouldn't be as good. Maybe it was the high anxiety I felt from the flight in and the ride itself. Maybe it was the food and dining out for three straight days for a guy who rarely dines out. A combination of the two, however, my in the first 35 miles I had to make a few ummmm stops.
The hills going from Questa to Taos were also a lot more difficult than the map made them look or the care ride one them made them seem. They were sneaky long, sort of steep climbs peaking at a 7 to 8% gradient. When you are feeling good and your tummy is acting up, these aren't the things you want to ride. I won't lie I had to hike a few times on the first couple of hills. I just told everyone I was find I was a to sport star ;)
Between Questa and Taos my only goal besides not having a road side accident, was to get to Taos on my bike. I made the decision someone where between mile 20 and 35 that with an upset tummy, I wasn't making the whole circle, but I would make it to Taos, which I consider the half way point because that is where you turn back and start heading back into the mountains. If, I could make Taos, then I was winning the day for me.
As I pushed to Taos it got hot. The sun up at that hight is harsh mistress. Even with strong sun screen on, it was brutal. I just kept pushing even when I noticed the Ryder truck behind me that was pulling down all the race signs. I realized quickly, I was the last person on the course. It didn't make me feel great but it also didn't change my game plan. Make Taos. So, that is what I did. When I got to Taos, I linked up with the Race SAG and got towed to the top of the first peak and then towed to Eagles nest. My day was done.
I waited for David in Eagles Nest, where he called it a day at mile 66 and after 4K feet of climbing. He did amazing.
David always telling us to hang loose!
New Mexico has a lot of Ganja shop's! This one was named G. My nephew is a G. I asked him if he started business in New Mexico, he didn't think it was funny I guess, never heard from him.
The ride didn't go as planned like I said. I did a half circle, or a semi-circle. That is how the ball bounces sometimes. The number one goal was to ride in New Mexico. I did that. State 5 of 50 has now been completed. Someday, will I go back and try to ride from Taos to Red River, maybe, it would be a thing to do, not a need to do. We will just see where the bike takes us.
Sunday we left the mountains and headed to Santa Fe. David kept talking about Dinosaur Museums. So, I took him to see some Dinosaurs.
Gotta love the Brontosaurus family we found on the Dinosaur trail. I mean it took us too trips out there to find them, but we did eventually find them. LOL. Directions aren't always the best on my phone I guess.
After our visit with the Dino's we went for New Mexican food and it was great!
We finished the trip off on Sunday night with trip to see the Naked Gun. OMG, spit my Coke Zero out laughing it was so funny. I was very happy with the re-release. I think the Liam did a great job. I give it two thumbs up.
Monday, we each flew home and now I ponder what's next. Part of me is thinking September 13 and the Tour de Ramps in Bloomington. Part of me thinks I keep looking. Either way, I am going to keep riding and take the next challenge head on!
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