Ridge of the Rockies - Taos NM to Chama NM

Beautiful cloudless skies all day, and moderate temps for July.  We had some rough pavement to deal with for 3 miles leaving Taos, but once we made a left turn on US 64 W, the road improved dramatically.  We crossed the Rio Grande Canyon on a bridge in a few miles.

The landscape featured a lot of large mounds which I was informed are extinct volcanoes.  There are also some "biosphere" housing areas, which are constructed by people wanting to "live off the grid."

We had fast riding for the first part of the day (approximately 55 miles), with very moderate climbing and long straight flat sections, aided by a tailwind at times.  That all changed once we entered Colorado, and faced a tough headwind for the next 20 miles to lunch.  Seven miles after the lunch stop, a very challenging 7% five mile climb up La Manga Pass faced us.  I stopped 3 or 4 times in the little shade I could find, waiting 45 seconds for my heart rate to drop down before proceeding.  After reaching the summit, there is a great downhill, and then another climb (not as steep or as long).  The final 10 or 11 miles are back in New Mexico, and this was pretty fast and easy with a gentle down slope.

Total mileage: 110 miles
Climbing: 4800 feet, concentrated in about 30 miles, and most of that in 5 miles

Rio Grande Canyon

This large llama was wandering around across from our first rest stop

A welcome sign after climbing five miles at a 7% grade

Scenery on the descent of La Manga Pass

Descending La Manga Pass