Day 12 - Grants, NM to Albuquerque, NM - 79 miles - 1,637 feet climbing - 4:20 hours in the saddle

Another great day of cycling.  Rolled out of Gallup under cool and overcast skies wearing a vest.  Today was mostly descending with a 3+ mile climb before a big descent into Albuquerque.  The ominous skies produced light rain a couple of times during the ride, but not enough to discourage us.

I was in a paceline with 5 of us and we flew to the first SAG at 31 miles averaging over 20 mph.  We came across a bike path in the middle of nowhere.  We did not ride on it until a policeman announced over his bull horn that the bike lane was available for our safety and he told us to get on it!

After their first rest stop we had to get on I-40 for 25 miles.  Generally a clean shoulder and still moving fast.

Next up a climb out of SAG 2 before descending into Albuquerque.

At SAG 2 I checked my tires for wires and pulled one out, but did not change the tire.  ROOKIE MISTAKE #2 - When in doubt, always change your ties at a rest stop, where you have help from the crew and a pump (but also an audience)!  I rode up the 3+ mile hill, some 4 - 5 percent grade, with a deflating tire, which was challenging.  Changed the tire at the top of the hill at Lost Horizon!  That is the 6th of the trip!  Feeling fortunate though since one rider had 6 in one day!  When riding on the Interstate, I stop every 10 miles for a preventive maintenance check of the tires.  I think that practice has saved me some flats.

 

Fast downhill descent in Albquerque and seafood taco lunch with Spencer (Oregon) and Vincenzo (Italy by way of UK).  It is Spencer’s birthday and Vincenzo last day with us as he is only riding a segment.

Rode though Old Town a few times.  Nothing has changed since Erika and I were here in 2019 driving Kenly and Isabel back from San Francisco to Dallas!

Stopped at La Cumbre Brewery on the way to the hotel.  Sun Fade, a great hazy IPA.  And once again, I was the last to claim my bags at the hotel.

Today was mostly descending.  And Newton’s Law of Biking Gravity…What goes down, must go up! Tomorrow we ride up to Santa Fe! And then a rest day on Saturday.

Savor the Journey // Achieve the Goal