Ridge of the Rockies - Albuquerque to Santa Fe

Overcast skies and cool temps made for a pleasant day (71.3 miles) as we headed to Santa Fe.  Yesterday's shakedown ride gave me extra confidence leaving Albuquerque, as we used the same bike trail.

There was a "moderate" amount of climbing (about 3200 - 3600 feet cumulative, which is not the same as net elevation gain).  We also rode on the shoulder of Interstate 25 for several miles.  Aside from the noise, this is actually not that unpleasant, as the shoulder is wide and a rumble strip separates it from the traffic lane.

Due to the relatively short day, riders arrived in Santa Fe between 11:30 and 1, and lunch was on your own.  The motel is undergoing renovation, which meant some rooms were not available until 4:30.

I spent a good part of the day riding with Jack, and a few others joined us for a couple of miles before breaking off.  We are still waiting for a southerly wind which is supposed to be the prevailing direction in the southwest.

Wes putting on his biking shoes in the morning

Gear bags have to be loaded each morning during a specific time slot

Breakfast in the parking lot

At one point, we had to lift our bikes over this barrier to get on a frontage road

Jack climbing a hill after crossing the cement barrier

Typical scenery we saw today in NM

Jack and I riding on the shoulder of I-25

One of today's rest stops