Ride Library

The 4-Hills In & Out is a nice add-on to other rides in the area. There are a few sharp steep hills but the ride is fairly moderate.

This is a ride around Albuquerque, NM, staying on city bike routes and 9 different trails. Route planned by David Jewell.

The East Albuquerque Metric Century combines popular routes in the east mountains with Tijeras Canyon and some NE heights routes for a nice metric century. There are a lot of turns but most of the route is pretty straight forward.

This route traverses the perimeter of Albuquerque east of the Rio Grande, with a couple of rest stops included.

This is a PBAA sanctioned perimeter ride. This ride starts from shopping center just south of Central Ave on Tramway Blvd.

The East Albuquerque Metric Century begins in a ride through 4 Hills, then on to Route 66 up to Tijeras, continues to Oak Flats, the rollers on 217, crosses Rt 66 to Frost Rd, then Vallecitos to Meadow, back out to Rt 66 and to the start.

The Algodones Sin Tramway Ride starts at Skyview Center, NE corner of Indian School and Tramway, and takes the direct route north / west on Tramway and then north on NM-313 through Bernalillo to Algodones. After turning around at the south edge of Algodones, the route returns to Bernalillo for a rest/food stop at Flying Star. After the break, the route continues south on NM-313, but avoids the climb back up Tramway by taking a route through town (mostly on trails) back to the start. Route planned by Mark Pasnewski, who doesn't like climbing Tramway.

This ride starts at Taylor Ranch Library parking lot and heads through Taylor Ranch, the Northeast Heights, the UNM campus, and SW parts of town, finishing by heading north on Unser back to the start. As intended, the route carefully avoids the Paseo Del Bosque Trail. Route planned by Mark Pasnewski.

The Balloon Fiesta Ride is a fun way to view the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta while avoiding the crowds and all the traffic. The best viewpoint depends on which way the balloons are drifting due to the winds. The rides usually start early since the first wave of the mass ascensions start at 7:00 am on the two Saturdays and Sundays. The ride follows the North Diversion Channel bike path to the Paseo del Norte Bike path which gives a good view of the Balloon Park from the South. During the Fiesta a bike valet service will watch your bike while you enjoy the festivities. Lights are required since the rides start early. At this time of year it can be pretty cold. Bring breakfast goodies or meet for brunch afterwards.

The Bear Canyon Arroyo is a delightful easy mountain bike ride right in the city. It is a great ride in the late fall. The trails are wide and climb gradually to the Foothills Trail 365. The Bear Canyon Arroyo is a flood control facility that runs right up to the Sandia Mountains. The trails are all packed dirt with no rocks. The terrain is all in the open so it always obvious where you are going and how to return. This is a great beginners or winter ride.

This is a fun, flat ride from Albuquerque to Belen, that takes advantage of the Rail Runner train to return to the start in Albuquerque. Be sure and check the train schedule beforehand and time your ride start so that you won't have a long wait for the train in Belen. Do allow time in Belen for lunch at Pete's Cafe, which is shown on the route.

This is an out-and-back ride from SE Albuquerque to Bernalillo, featuring the climb up Tramway Blvd on the return. Great views of the Sandia Mountains!

Visiting some of the more infamous locations from early seasons of the the Better Call Saul Television Show. Everything from his first office behind a Day Spa, to the bill board where he staged a mock rescue to gain publicity. Bring your camera. This 40 mile route covers the valley up into the foothills so some climbing will be involved.

This is an out-and-back ride, starting from the Alameda Open Space parking lot and heading north through Bernalillo and San Felipe pueblo to Casino Hollywood. Return by the same route. [Formerly "Hollywood is Halfway"]

The Breakfast Burrito Ride loop around Albuquerque without too much climbing. When this is an NMTS ride, it is an event with breakfast burritos at the start and a cook-out at the finish. Route planned by Mark Pasnewski.

This ride goes to many of the filming locations for the award winning TV show Breaking Bad.

The "City Circle" Loop Tour is a pleasant ride through Albuquerque. This tour is a good winter ride or early morning brunch ride. The tour is not overly long or complex and visits the the four quadrants of Albuquerque. The tour goes through downtown Albuquerque which is pretty deserted on weekend mornings. The ride uses city streets and the bikepaths. Distance: 46 miles with no real steep sections except maybe MLK. Getting there: Begin and end at the UNM Observatory north of Lomas on Yale. Notes: Be prepared for flats from "goat-heads" on the bikepaths.

The scenic Double Eagle Dash Loop begins and ends at the Albuquerque Bio Park. This is a good winter ride. The ride takes you high on the west mesa where there are great views of the Sandias, Manzanos, Jemez Mountains, and Mt. Taylor. These may be snow capped in the winter and are a terrific contrast in colors. You pass the Albuquerque volcanos. Some rides stop at the Double Eagle Airport Prop Wash snack bar for lunch or a snack. Part of the ride uses the hugely popular Bosque / Riverside Bikepath. The southern part of the bikepath is not nearly as busy as the northern section. The bikepath follows the Rio Grande diversion channel and is exceptionally nice in the morning. Itand is exceptionally pleasant. The bikepath is noteable in that there are no at-grade street crossings for its entire 16 mile length.

The classic Taylor Ranch - Rio Puerco - Double Eagle Loop begins and ends at the Taylor Ranch library. This is a good winter ride. The ride takes you high on the west side where there are great views of the Sandias, Manzanos, and Mt. Taylor to the west. The Rio Puerco leg is often used for time trials. There is an option that begins and ends at Paradise Hills that eliminates Unser and the Taylor Ranch areas. The I-40 frontage road has some notable rolling hills. It is often windy out there. There is a Stuckey's and another convenience store on the north and south sides of I-40 at the Rio Puerco where you can get snacks or food for the return trip. Some stop at the Double Eagle airport snack bar for lunch.

The classic Taylor Ranch - Rio Puerco - Double Eagle Loop begins and ends at the Taylor Ranch library. This is a good winter ride. The ride takes you high on the west side where there are great views of the Sandias, Manzanos, and Mt. Taylor to the west. The Rio Puerco leg is often used for time trials. There is an option that begins and ends at Paradise Hills that eliminates Unser and the Taylor Ranch areas. The I-40 frontage road has some notable rolling hills. It is often windy out there. There is a Stuckey's and another convenience store on the north and south sides of I-40 at the Rio Puerco where you can get snacks or food for the return trip. Some stop at the Double Eagle airport snack bar for lunch.

The Eastern Albuquerque Perimeter Loop ride is a variation of the Albuquerque Perimeter Rides. It is a good cold weather ride. This ride incorporates areas popular with rides, Tramway, the Riverside and Bosque Bikepaths, and the Chris Chavez Bikepath. Since this is a loop, it can be started and ended at any location or ridden in the opposite direction, just read the cuesheet from the bottom up.

The East Sandia Mountains have a lot of popular trails that are commonly used by mountain bikers. Not all are well known. The following are some of the trailheads. Start with the good Trails of Cedro Peak & Otero Canyon map. Most areas have lots of trails that don't show up on the maps so stay alert. There are way more trails than are on the map. Most trails do not have trail markers.Always carry more water, food, and repair tools since it is easy to miss trails and wind up on a longer ride than expected. This said, there are great trails of all experience levels and lengths. There are other places where trails come out but where there isn't much parking. You might have to park and ride some roads to find the trailheads.

The East Mountain Century connects several of the East Mountains favorite rides into one demanding but scenic ride. One advantage is that there are several points at which the ride can be shortened if the typical winds kick up. Take plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen as there are only a few places to stop for most of the ride. The east side is a favorite area to ride due to light traffic, few stop signs, awesome vistas, and cool weather in the summer. Beware of winds in the afternoon. Most of the roads have no shoulders and broken edges so ride carefully. This route is fairly demanding with about 5,500' of elevation gain over the ~108 miles.

The East Mountain Metric Century connects several of the East Mountains' favorite rides into one demanding but scenic ride. One advantage is that there are several points at which the ride can be shortened if the typical winds kick up. Take plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen as there are no places to stop for most of the ride. The east side is a favorite due to light traffic, awesome vistas, and cool weather in the summer. Beware of winds in the afternoon. Most of the roads have no shoulders and broken edges so ride carefully. This route is fairly demanding with about 5,500' of elevation gain over the ~60 miles. The route includes the steep Heartbreak Hill and the S-14 Rollers.

This ride starts in Albuquerque and heads up Tijeras Canyon into the east mountains. It takes you up and down through the mountains passing through the town of Tijeras three times. Nothing too steep and some fun descents.

This ride starts in Albuquerque and heads up Tijeras Canyon into the east mountains. It features a trip over Heartbreak Hill from the east (the easy way) and a climb up Gutierrez Canyon Rd in both directions.

This is pretty much a copy of Donna Chavez's East Mountain Whirl ride except it takes the loop in the opposite direction to climb Heartbreak Hill. On the return, it takes Vallecitos and Sedillo Hill for some added variety.

The East Sandia Mountains have a lot of popular trails that are commonly used by mountain bikers. Not all are well known. The following are some of the trailheads. Start with the good Trails of Cedro Peak & Otero Canyon map. Most areas have lots of trails that don't show up on the maps so stay alert. There are way more trails than are on the map. Most trails do not have trail markers.Always carry more water, food, and repair tools since it is easy to miss trails and wind up on a longer ride than expected. This said, there are great trails of all experience levels and lengths. There are other places where trails come out but where there isn't much parking. You might have to park and ride some roads to find the trailheads.

This ride starts at the Alameda Open Space parking lot and heads south through Downtown; out to Mesa Del Sol; across the river at Rio Bravo; and back north on Isleta Blvd, the Bosque Trail, and Rio Grande Blvd. Reduce the climbing and shorten the route by omitting the loop out to Mesa Del Sol.

The Foothills Trail in the Elena Gallegos Open Space Park in Albuquerque is one of the nicest singletracks anywhere and is located next to a large metropolitan area. There is a maze of trails just below the Sandia wilderness area. Some trails are closed to cyclists, so observe the signs at the well marked intersections. All the bike trails allow foot traffic so keep your eyes open. The single track trails north of the Embudito trailhead are mainly rock free and are a lot of fun. There is some elevation gain but none of the trails are real steep. A number of new trails west of the open space have sprung up allowing lots of options. Trails 341, 342 230, 230A, 366, 365, and 365A are open to cyclists.

Moderate short MTB ride starting and ending at the ABQ Open Space parking lot at east the end of Copper.

This is a short ride through the foothills on east side of Albuquerque with a lot of short steep climbs.

The popular Fast Fifty Loop is a good winter ride that is largely on the excellent bike path system through southeast Albuquerque. This route passes along the picturesque Rio Grande bosque and has wide sweeping views of the Sandia Mountains in the distance, especially from the North Diversion Channel. The Bosque Bikepath is notable in that it has no street intersections for it's 16 mile length (plus the Chris Chavez loop). The bikepaths are very popular. Watch for pedestrians, rollerbladers, horses, and little kids especially near access points. In the summer, get an early start to beat the heat.

Climbing is the order of the day for this ride. A total of around 4300 ft of elevation gain Some of the grades are up to 14%. The ride is designed to begin with a warm up ride up Tramway, followed by the hardest rides up to the La Luz trailhead and the La Cueva picnic ground. There are more climbs up the "fingers" as we travel south towards the starting location. This ride goes all year long except for the occasional storm in the winter.

A tribute to the Five Burroughs of New York. Starts at the Rail Runner station near 2nd and Rio Bravo.

This is a climbing ride, heading north on Tramway Blvd and climbing / descending five "fingers" east of Tramway, ending with a steep climb to the terminal of Sandia Peak Tramway and a rest stop to enjoy the view. After that, enjoy a quick descent and then a straight shot south on Tramway back to the starting point. Have a snack and coffee at Einstein's Bagels after the ride. Route planned by Dorothy Brethauer.

The Flying Star Out and Back begins and ends in Old Town at the Atomic Museum to the Juan Tabo Flying Star (aka Double Rainbow). This is a quick ride, has good pavement all the way and you are rewarded with Flying Star confections at the top.

The Foothills Trail in the Elena Gallegos Open Space Park in Albuquerque is one of the nicest singletracks anywhere and is located next to a large metropolitan area. There is a maze of trails just below the Sandia wilderness area. Some trails are closed to cyclists, so observe the signs at the well marked intersections. All the bike trails allow foot traffic so keep your eyes open. The single track trails north of the Embudito trailhead are mainly rock free and are a lot of fun. There is some elevation gain but none of the trails are real steep. A number of new trails west of the open space have sprung up allowing lots of options. Trails 341, 342 230, 230A, 366, 365, and 365A are open to cyclists.

The very scenic Frost Road Loops begin and end at the 4-Hill's Smiths. These are favorite rides in the summer to get away from the heat of the city. They have great views of the Sandias from the east, the Manzanos, and South Mountain. The traffic is very light once off NM14 and RT66. RT66 and NM14 have shoulders to the "Triangle". As always in NM watch for debris and broken glass on the shoulders. It can get pretty windy so get an early start. The loops can be shortened by 13 miles and 750 ft. elevation by starting at the Tijeras Library. NM333 is the new designation for the historic RT66. NM337 is the new designation for South NM14. There are street signs at all the intersections. The "Triangle" is the intersection of Frost Road, NM556 (the Crest Road), and NM14. There is a convienence store at the Zuzax to pick up snacks. Historic RT66 has been renamed NM333. NM14 South of Tijeras is NM337 (S14).

The very scenic Frost Road Loops begin and end at the 4-Hill's Smiths. These are favorite rides in the summer to get away from the heat of the city. They have great views of the Sandias from the east, the Manzanos, and South Mountain. The traffic is very light once off NM14 and RT66. RT66 and NM14 have shoulders to the "Triangle". As always in NM watch for debris and broken glass on the shoulders. It can get pretty windy so get an early start. The loops can be shortened by 13 miles and 750 ft. elevation by starting at the Tijeras Library. NM333 is the new designation for the historic RT66. NM337 is the new designation for South NM14. There are street signs at all the intersections. The "Triangle" is the intersection of Frost Road, NM556 (the Crest Road), and NM14. There is a convienence store at the Zuzax to pick up snacks. Historic RT66 has been renamed NM333. NM14 South of Tijeras is NM337 (S14).

The very scenic Frost Road Loops begin and end at the 4-Hill's Smiths. These are favorite rides in the summer to get away from the heat of the city. They have great views of the Sandias from the east, the Manzanos, and South Mountain. The traffic is very light once off NM14 and RT66. RT66 and NM14 have shoulders to the "Triangle". As always in NM watch for debris and broken glass on the shoulders. It can get pretty windy so get an early start. The loops can be shortened by 13 miles and 750 ft. elevation by starting at the Tijeras Library. NM333 is the new designation for the historic RT66. NM337 is the new designation for South NM14. There are street signs at all the intersections. The "Triangle" is the intersection of Frost Road, NM556 (the Crest Road), and NM14. There is a convienence store at the Zuzax to pick up snacks. Historic RT66 has been renamed NM333. NM14 South of Tijeras is NM337 (S14).

The very scenic Frost Road Loops begin and end at the 4-Hill's Smiths. These are favorite rides in the summer to get away from the heat of the city. They have great views of the Sandias from the east, the Manzanos, and South Mountain. The traffic is very light once off NM14 and RT66. RT66 and NM14 have shoulders to the "Triangle". As always in NM watch for debris and broken glass on the shoulders. It can get pretty windy so get an early start. The loops can be shortened by 13 miles and 750 ft. elevation by starting at the Tijeras Library. NM333 is the new designation for the historic RT66. NM337 is the new designation for South NM14. There are street signs at all the intersections. The "Triangle" is the intersection of Frost Road, NM556 (the Crest Road), and NM14. There is a convienence store at the Zuzax to pick up snacks. Historic RT66 has been renamed NM333. NM14 South of Tijeras is NM337 (S14).

The very scenic Frost Road Loops begin and end at the 4-Hill's Smiths. These are favorite rides in the summer to get away from the heat of the city. They have great views of the Sandias from the east, the Manzanos, and South Mountain. The traffic is very light once off NM14 and RT66. RT66 and NM14 have shoulders to the "Triangle". As always in NM watch for debris and broken glass on the shoulders. It can get pretty windy so get an early start. The loops can be shortened by 13 miles and 750 ft. elevation by starting at the Tijeras Library. NM333 is the new designation for the historic RT66. NM337 is the new designation for South NM14. There are street signs at all the intersections. The "Triangle" is the intersection of Frost Road, NM556 (the Crest Road), and NM14. There is a convienence store at the Zuzax to pick up snacks. Historic RT66 has been renamed NM333. NM14 South of Tijeras is NM337 (S14).

The very scenic Frost Road Loops begin and end at the 4-Hill's Smiths. These are favorite rides in the summer to get away from the heat of the city. They have great views of the Sandias from the east, the Manzanos, and South Mountain. The traffic is very light once off NM14 and RT66. RT66 and NM14 have shoulders to the "Triangle". As always in NM watch for debris and broken glass on the shoulders. It can get pretty windy so get an early start. The loops can be shortened by 13 miles and 750 ft. elevation by starting at the Tijeras Library. NM333 is the new designation for the historic RT66. NM337 is the new designation for South NM14. There are street signs at all the intersections. The "Triangle" is the intersection of Frost Road, NM556 (the Crest Road), and NM14. There is a convienence store at the Zuzax to pick up snacks. Historic RT66 has been renamed NM333. NM14 South of Tijeras is NM337 (S14).

Mountain bike ride in the East Mountains by Lester.

Heartbreak Hill from Tijeras via Guiterrez Canyon Rd.

Heartbreak Hill from Tijeras via Guiterrez Canyon Rd.

This is a short ride that goes by some of Albuquerque's historic landmarks.

The Jemez Dam Ride is a pleasant open ride six miles north of US550 west of Bernaillo that has nice views of the nearby Jemez Mountains to the north and a distant view of the northern Sandia Mountains to the south. There is a picnic area at the Jemez Dam overlook with covered picnic tables. There are several options that include this ride to make it longer. The elevation is low and the terrain is open so start early to beat the heat and winds.

This ride starts at the location of "The Kickstand", a favorite bike shop, now sadly closed. The route heads east for some climbing in residential areas east of Tramway Blvd; descends Tramway Road; visits Balloon Fiesta Park; continues west to the river and heads south on Rio Grande Blvd; passes near the University area; and finally meanders east on bike routes and trails back to the starting point.

The La Llorona Loop rides through beautiful scenery on some of Albuquerque's new bike paths. A very nice ride. This follows several of Albuquerque's bikepaths so watch for pedestrians. Thanks to Roger Flegel for developing this nice ride. See the Riverside Bikepath for more.

The La Luz Trailhead Climb is a short but challenging addition to rides on northern Tramway Blvd., just north of the Tramway Bikepath. It has spectacular views of the Sandia Mountains: The Shield, The Needle, and the Sandia Crest and great views west. The La Luz Trailhead has USFS bathrooms but no water at the La Luz Trailhead. The ride is a simple out and back. It has pretty impressive close up views of the Sandia Mountains.

The La Madera Climb is a short but challenging climb that can be added as an option to rides on north NM14, 1.5 miles north of the "Triangle". The La Madera Climb has sweeping views of the Sandia Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Santa Fe, South and the Ortiz Mountains. There are a couple of steep climbs and tight turns on the descents but it is fun. The route passes the East Mountains High School and the community center near the intersection with NM14. Once past the school you ride into Ponderosa forest and start climbing. There are a couple of steep short climbs and then the pavement ends at the fire station . Don't despair, just when you climb the worst section it levels off. If you have the time and energy it is a pleasant diversion off north-14.

This ride is usually featured as an NMTS holiday event; starting at Wyoming Mall, the route takes one past or in the near vicinity of Cottonwood, Coronado, and Winrock Malls, where we can observe all the craziness from the comfort of our bicycles.

This ride starts up through Tijeras Canyon, but east of the town of Tijeras, the route takes roads less traveled through east side open space and housing developments.

The long-time popular Los Lunas Spin loop begins and ends at the Albuquerque Bio Park parking lot near central.The ride is fairly flat and rapid. The route goes through the picturesque south valley and south into the Rio Communities of Los Lunas and Valencia. The traffic is not bad and there are shoulders along much of the way.

This is a ride mostly on trails and residential streets that features a hunt for the now-defunct Sandia Shadows winery, a descent down Tramway Blvd, and a food stop at a local institution on 2nd St NW, Murphy's Mule Barn Cafe.

The Madrid Gold Rush is more fun than an ornery pack mule in a minefield. Begin and end at 4-Hills Smiths. This classic club ride is in the rural setting of the east mountains, east of the Sandia Mountains. The ride is somewhat challenging but has stunning views of the Sandias, Ortiz Mountains, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This is a good ride to escape the heat of the city but it can get really hot and windy out here too. The route is mainly on NM14 which goes through open pinon and juniper forests and hilly terrain. The route can be shortened by 12 miles by starting at the Tijeras library. Madrid has a lower elevation than the start from Tijeras so this ride is harder on the return, so be prepared. There is no water available north of San Antonito (Sandia Crest Cutoff) until Madrid, so carry plenty of water. There are a few stores or coffee shops in Madrid where you can buy snacks. The climbs north, out of Madrid are short (several miles) but steep. The route goes through Golden, where not much is going on, but has the often photographed Catholic church of San Francisco just off the NM14. It can get pretty hot and windy in the summer afternoons.

The Mars Court Mountain Bike Rides is a popular moderate mountain biking area in the Manzano Mountains just east of Albuquerque. The area is a pleasant region with some dirt 2-track roads and a maze of dirt single tracks that go through Ponderosa forests and picturesque meadows. Trails connect downhill south to Otero Canyon and Tunnel Canyon which can be taken out to NM337 and then ride back uphill to Mars Court. From Mars court Forest Road FR530 twists and turns downhill to David Canyon and hits FR321 where there are some signs. Here you can decide whether to go north or south. There are parallel trails running north and south uphill just to the west.

This is a ride starting / ending at Midtown Sports and Wellness (4100 Prospect Ave NE) in Albuquerque, featuring a climb to the eastern side of town, a visit to Elena Gallegos Recreation Area, a nice descent down Tramway Blvd, and a route through Balloon Fiesta Park. Food and beer at Green Jeans after the ride.

The Moriarty - Mountainair - Tijeras Loop is long loop in the East Mountains running from Tijeras to Moriarty to Estancia to Mountainair to Tajique to Tijeras. This entire ride has great views of the Manzano Mountains and Manzano Peak (10,098') to the west. As you ride south from Estancia, Mesa Jumanas is visible to the south. The route is mostly in the open so vulnerable to winds and summer thunderstorms. The total mileage depends on where you start and stop. The leg from Mountainair to Estancia and onto US60 is quite flat and fast. The description below begins and ends in Tijeras. The nicest section is from Moriarty south through Estancia to US60, flat straight, and fast. NM41 south of Moriarty is the Salt Missions Scenic Byway. The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument visitor center for the Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivira Ruins is at the Shaffer hotel at the corner of Broadway & Ripley in Mountainair. The ruins are worth a visit.

The classic Albuquerque - Mountainair - Albuquerque Loop is a classic club overnight ride. The total mileage depends on where you start and stop in Albuquerque. The below description begins at the south end of the Riverside Bikepath and ends at Four Hills in Albuquerque. There are so many possible routes through Albuqerque that this portion of the loop is not documented. Distance: 144 miles (2 days, ~72 miles per day). Tijeras - Mountainair, 54 miles, 3,030' elevation gain.

This is an out-and-back ride, featuring the North Diversion Channel Trail and a climb up / descent down Tramway Rd.

The NM217 Rollers, aka South-14 Rollers, is a favorite ride that can be combined with the Oak Flat climb up S-14, Heartbreak Hill, and other rides on the east side of the Manzanos. This is a great summer ride to get out of the heat of Albuquerque. This is a demanding ride but a lot of fun. Since this is New Mexico it is often windy so start early. Take plenty of water and snacks. The rollers are great fun. This ride has commanding views of the Manzano mountains and the Sandia Mountains. You can also see Edgewood to the east. South NM14 has been renamed NM337. Historic route Route 66 is now NM333. There are about seven big rollers between Martinez Rd. and I-40. Riding NM217 north to south is definitely harder than south to north. You will normally see other cyclists on this popular circuit.

This ride starts at the Alameda Open Space parking lot and heads down the River Trail. NMTS does this ride every Sunday. We stop at Java Joe's at 9th and park on the way back.

The Northeast Loop is a mellow ride that starts and ends at the UNM observatory parking lot. The is a little climbing going up the NE heights. This ride takes in a lot of city streets so there are a lot of turns and stop signs. Since this is a loop it can end and start anywhere on the loop.

This ride starts in Albuquerque, but heads up into Tijeras Canyon, turning south in Tijeras for a climb past the Oak Flats recreation area. Nothing too steep, and some nice descents on the way back into Albuquerque. Route planned by Gary Shaw.

The Oak Flat Out and Back is a nice ride on the east side of the Manzanos to beat the summer heat and get some climbing in. Ride out Tijeras Canyon on Old Route66 (NM333) to Tijeras. Climb Old South 14 (NM337) past the Tijeras Ranger Station up the winding road to the USFS Oak Flat Picnic Grounds through through the forested scenic east mountains. NM337 climbs through pleasant Pondorosa forests past some pretty roadcuts hinting at the forces that raised the Sandia and Manzano Mountains. There are terrific views of the Sandias on the downhill (north) side. This is a moderate climb with no extreme grades.

This ride uses urban trails to get to the big downhill on Tramway.

Paseo del Mesa is a motor-free trail with desert views of the mountains and river valley.

This route climbs on bike trails up the West Mesa to Boca Negra Canyon before rolling the hills of the Unser Bike Lanes. Descend Atrisco Hill and follow the shady, flat route back to the start.

The Pine Flat Trails are mostly hard-packed dirt single track that ride through mixed close ponderosa, pinon, and of course oak trees. These are excellent, well-marked trails that wind up and down through the forests. There aren't many viewpoints but these are pleasant if short trails. Longer loops can be linked together using the Mahogany Trail down to the Cedro Peak area. Making a loop from the picnic ground of the Gamble Oak Trail, Mahogany Trail, Cutoff Trail, and Gamble Oak Trail back to the picnic ground is about 5 miles with about 550' of elevation gain.

This is a ride all around Albuquerque, NM. Originally staged as a “The route is a secret, you have to follow me!”, briskly-paced ride to keep riders together as a group. The route was actually planned out as a way to link segments of other club rides together in a new and different way.

This ride starts at Smith's at Tramway and Montgomery, heads north and west on Tramway, winds through Balloon Fiesta Park, cruises through the quirky neighborhoods of East Downtown, visits the Southeast Heights, and winds up with a spin past ritzy homes east of Tramway.

This is an out-and-back ride with two significant climbs, out to the Rio Puerco west of Albuquerque. Traditional NMTS New Year's Day ride.

This is a 35 mile ride in Rio Rancho and Corrales. The loop has nice views of the Sandias to the east and the Jemez Mountains from the northern part of the loop.

The Paseo del Bosque Bike Trail, also called the Riverside Bike Path in places, is a lovely 16 mile-long paved bikepath, uninterrupted by roadways. The trail parallels the Rio Grande bosque on the east side of the Rio Grande from Alameda Blvd. in the north to where it intersects 2nd Street on the south. There are no street crossings for the 16 miles. The Bernalillo County Chris Chavez Bikepath continues east crossing under 2nd street. The Bosque Bikepath follows the languid Rio Grande through the cottonwood bosque, past Tingley Beach and the Nature Center under all the busy highways. Since the bikepath parallels the diversion channel it is a flat as they get. Along the bikepath, aside from the exotic camels, lamas, ostriches (no joke) you can see road runners, coyotes, and migrating ducks, cranes, ospreys, and geese. Keep you eye out for migrating bald eagles along the river or elephants at the zoo. In the fall the bikepath is covered with cottonwood leaves. The bike path passes the Rio Grande Zoo, the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, and the Rio Grande Botanical Garden.

The San Felipe Flyer is a classic thrill-filled ride through the scenic valley north of Bernalillo. This is a good spring or winter ride with low elevation, so it is warmer. It has light traffic and nice scenery with good views of the Sandia Mountains. It is also pretty flat. A pleasant ride. It's not as open as some rides so it doesn't seem as windy. The ride goes through rural areas north of Bernaillo to the San Felipe pueblo. NM313 from Bernalillo to San Felipe is part of the historic El Camino Real Scenic Byway that runs from Santa Fe to El Paso.

The Sandia Crest Climb (10,640 ft.) is a scenic, challenging climb (4,880' from Tijeras) to the highest point on the Sandia Mountains and quite an accomplishment for all cyclists. The descent is not to be missed. It has tight turns on descent and can be considerably colder than town. This is a great ride to practice your descent technique. Once on NM536 you are climbing mostly through a heavily forested road with very low traffic. This is a lovely summer evening ride in the lengthening shadows, with cooler temperatures, and with almost no traffic. NM14 and NM536 (Sandia Crest Road) are parts of the Turquoise Trail and are a National Scenic Byway. The climb goes through several vegetation zones and interesting geologic features. The route goes through ponderosa, aspen, and spruce forests. The aspens turn vibrant yellows and orange in the fall. The locust trees bloom in the spring along the lower elevations. Most of the year wildflowers line the highway. You enter the Cibola National Forest just past Tinkertown. The Sandias are relatively young, geologically. Road cuts display sandstone and limestone layers broken in different directions hinting at the forces at work raising the range. As you pedal past Doc Long, the Great Unconformity is visible in the road cut across from Doc Long. The rocks above the line are 250 million years old, those below are 1,450 million years old. The unconformity is a 1.2 billion year gap that has been eroded away then younger rocks deposited above. At the summit on the observation deck, you are standing on fossil-laden Pennsylvanian limestone. There is a parking lot at the crest where there is a USFS visitor center and snack bar and gift shop. There are normally quite a few people at the crest but it is not congested. You might want to bring a light locking cable to be able to walk to the observation platform or south along the Crest Trail. There is a superb view of all of Albuquerque, Mt. Taylor, Ladron Peak, and the Jemez Mountains on the west. The Sandia Crest Climb i

The Sandia Mountain Loop Century includes georgeous scenery and lots of climbing. A portion is on I-25 but it has shoulders so just grin and bear it. Some stretches have no place to stop for food and water so carry plenty. Since this is a loop it can begin and end at any point but this mileage starts and ends at the Four Hills Smiths. The section on I-25 is on and off the frontage road. Stay east of the concrete barriers on the uphill section.

This is a fun ride from Bernalillo to Santa Fe takes advantage of the Rail Runner train to return to the start. Be sure and check the train schedule beforehand and time your ride start so that you won't have a long wait for the train in Santa Fe. Allow time in Santa Fe to see the Rail Yard and the Plaza.

The popular Sedillo Hill Out-and-Back ride begins and ends at the 4-Hills' Smiths. This ride goes out into the picturesque rural east mountains. Alone, this is a good fall or spring ride just before it gets dark. Sedillo Hill is a high point that provides stunning views of the Sandias and the other mountains in the area. The ride is mainly uphill out and downhill back. Many options can be added to this ride to branch out to other parts of the east mountains.

The See San Ysidro ride follows US 550 to San Ysidro and provides awesome views of the Jemez Mountains to the north and the wilderness study areas to the south and the Sandia Mountains on the return. This ride is a good one for the winter months. It can be pretty hot in the summer. The route is pretty open and vulnerable to the winds.

Later winter start to avoid cold mornings. Earlier summer start for a cooler ride.

The NM217 Rollers, aka South-14 Rollers, is a favorite ride that can be combined with the Oak Flat climb up S-14, Heartbreak Hill, and other rides on the east side of the Manzanos. This is a great summer ride to get out of the heat of Albuquerque. This is a demanding ride but a lot of fun. Since this is New Mexico it is often windy so start early. Take plenty of water and snacks. The rollers are great fun. This ride has commanding views of the Manzano mountains and the Sandia Mountains. You can also see Edgewood to the east. South NM14 has been renamed NM337. Historic route Route 66 is now NM333.

A route through Taylor Ranch, Paradise Hills, and Rio Rancho that features some less-traveled roads and nice views. Route planned by David Jewell and Steve McKenzie.

The Tajique Tango is a classic in-and-out ride beginning and ending at the 4-Hills Smiths at Tramway and Central. There are great views of the Manzano and southern Sandian Mountains. There is a lot of elevation gain on the return ride so make sure you have something left for the return. The initial portion of the ride is uphill though ponderosa pine forests. It opens out passing NM217. This trip can be shortened by 13 miles and 850' elevation gain by beginning at Tijeras. NM337 is renamed old south NM14.

The classic Taylor Ranch - Rio Puerco - Double Eagle Loop begins and ends at the Taylor Ranch library. This is a good winter ride. The ride takes you high on the west side where there are great views of the Sandias, Manzanos, and Mt. Taylor to the west. The Rio Puerco leg is often used for time trials. There is an option that begins and ends at Paradise Hills that eliminates Unser and the Taylor Ranch areas. The I-40 frontage road has some notable rolling hills. It is often windy out there. There is a Stuckey's and another convenience store on the north and south sides of I-40 at the Rio Puerco where you can get snacks or food for the return trip. Some stop at the Double Eagle airport snack bar for lunch. Universe Rd. is a new road from the end of Unser north of Montaño at the top of the hill to the stop sign at Paradise Hills Rd. at the east end of the La Ventana addition. This road is 2-lanes (no shoulders naturally) but with a speed limit of 35 (ha ha). But this road eliminates a lot of the thrashing around through Taylor Ranch for Double Eagle II loop rides. Also, there are some new bike lanes on Paradise Hills Rd. further east.

This ride starts at the Taylor Ranch Library; heads east and north to climb up Tramway; descends Tramway to head out to Bernalillo; climbs east to The Merc shopping center in Placitas; and finally returns through Bernalillo and the North Valley to the starting point.

The Good – it is short. The Bad – it is all hills. The longest is up Tramway, but there are 6 other climbs between 0.6 and 0.7 miles long. This is a good workout to get in shape. Route planned by Gary Shaw.

The Tijeras Trot is an extremely popular ride from 4-Hills to Tijeras up the Tijeras Canyon between the Sandia and Manzano Mountains.. This is often the start of other scenic rides on the east side. The route has only moderate climbing and has some nice shoulders and light traffic. This out-and-back ride starts and ends at the 4-hill's Smiths. This ride up the Tijeras Canyon is a starting point for many rides on the east side of the Sandias. You will certainly see other cyclists on this stretch.

The theme of this ride is to connect many of the Chavez-named places in Albuquerque. The ride starts out on the west and south sides of the city, with a food stop in Old Town at about the half way point. After the break, the ride continues into the southeast and northeast heights to pick up more Chavez-named places.

This ride starts at the Alameda Open Space parking lot and heads out through Rio Rancho to the Mariposa development off north Unser. Rest stop at the Timbuctu Caf� (now closed). Return back by Rio Rancho Civic Center, on Paseo Del Volcan, and through Corrales on Loma Larga.

The Tour of the Rio Grande Valley (TORGV) is a classic tour through the farming villages south of Albuquerque along the Rio Grande. It is quite flat as centuries go with only 830 ft. elevation gain on the century route. This is not the "official" description for the TORGV. This information is provided for NMTS members so that they can negotiate the ride without missing vital turns. There are 50, 75, and 109 mile options. These mileages may differ from yours due to cyclometer calibration and the fact that we missed 2 turns on this last tour. Keep an eye out for turns. An easy way to turn 109 miles to 126 is to miss the NM304 turn, which many have done.

The Tramway Bike Path, paralleling the Sandia Mountains on the East side of Albuquerque provides awesome views of the Rio Grande valley, and close-up views of the Sandia Mountains. The route is nicely landscaped and has a number of nice turnouts and benches along the way. The Tramway Bike Path runs from I-40 and Central north to Tramway Lane where the road up to the Sandia Tram begins on the east side of Tramway. This is a very popular route so start early, especially on weekends. There are numerous walkers, runners, skaters, and baby strollers using the trail, too. The bike path is very open and crosses mainly through residential areas and is a very pleasant ride. This is a great route to take your kids or grand-kids to learn to ride. The Tramway Bike Path crosses all the intersecting roads at grade, most using the pedestrian crossings. Use extreme caution at the crossings. Even though most have traffic lights many of the intersections have right turn lanes where cars zip around the right turns without looking for joggers, pedestrians or cyclists. There are fewer crossings north of Montgomery. Most of the crossings have pedestrian signals but these do not give pedestrians their own protected turn so watch for turning cars - they aren't looking for you. Many experienced riders prefer to ride on the excellent, fast shoulders along Tramway from I-40/Central to I-25 rather than dodging turning cars and baby strollers.

NMTS ride to the "Triangle" and back.

This ride starts in SE Albuquerque but goes up through Tijeras Canyon into the east mountains. The route winds all over and includes little-traveled roads, some steep climbs, and interesting scenery.

David Jewell developed this ride as one of his Friday weekly rides for the NMTS.

The Albuquerque Volcanoes Mountain Bike Rides are popular, easy mountain bike rides on Albuquerque's west side in the US NPS Petroglyph National Monument. The volcanoes are visible from much of Albuquerque as several low hills on the west horizon. The trails provide stunning views of the Sandias and Albuquerque to the east. One of the larger volcanoes output warm air from far below which hints that not all the activity is dormant. The area is totally open and hot in the summer so take plenty of water. This is a good spring, fall, or even winter ride.

This ride starts at the Alameda Open Space parking lot and heads south on the Paseo Del Bosque Trail. Turn west at Rio Bravo to climb to the West Mesa. Heading north, take a break at Double Eagle Airport and then continue north and east through Paradise Hills, Rio Rancho, and Corrales on the way back to the starting point.

The Westside and Downtown Tour starts at the Alameda Open Space parking lot and heads south on the Paseo Del Bosque Trail. At I-40, cross the Gail Ryba Memorial Bridge to head west to Unser Blvd, returning to the river by way of Bluewater, Atrisco, and Bridge. Then the route winds through the older parts of downtown Albuquerque before heading north on Rio Grande Blvd and returning to the starting point.

An easy 22 mile round trip mountain bike ride north of Albuquerque. The route follows a dirt road downhill 8 miles to Cerrillos. This unfortunately, is the low point. Continue on paved road 3 miles by climbing to Madrid. The return route is the same. It's uphill back to the start from Cerrillos.

The classic Acoma Loop takes us into the land of giant mesas and endless blue skies as we ride into the heart of the Acoma Pueblo.

The classic Acoma Pueblo Loop takes us into the land of giant mesas and endless blue skies as we ride into the heart of the Acoma Pueblo. After entering the reservation, the loop passes the impressive Enchanted Mesa, Kadzima, along L23/L22 (L = Laguna Reservation). The area is pretty flat and open with wide vistas. The ride passes the Sky City at the junction of 38 & 23 at the museum but does not climb up the mesa.

A pleasant off-road ride to view the migrating flocks. Note: Check with the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge in advance to see about where they will let you ride. In recent years, local regulations have limited bicycling in the Refug

Caja del Rio is an offroad ride, sometimes also known as the Mudfest or Derailleur-Eater. It is west of Santa Fe overlooking the Rio Grande and Whiterock. There are a large number of options due to the maze of old ranch trails, logging roads and new roads. Watch the major mountains and nearby hills as reference points. This ride has great views of the Rio Grande and the Jemez Mountains opposite White Rock. The best time is the spring or fall since it can get quite hot in the summer.

The Capulin Volcano Loop in northern New Mexico rides from Raton through interesting volcanic landscapes with a side visit to the Capulin Volcano National Monument. The northern New Mexico route goes through rolling open range lands with antelope and deer through forested areas. The monument has a visitor center just off the highway. There is a .2-mle trail down into the volcano and a 1-mile trail along the rim. From the rim you can look over the "Cimarron Cut-off" of the Santa Fe Trail. To the north is the dramatic Raton Pass into Colorado.

The Cedro Peak Mountain Bike Trails are comprised of a network of intermediate to hard single and double track trails in the east Sandia Mountains, a part of the Cibola National Forest. The area is comprised of arid, hilly, mixed juniper, pinion and ponderosa forests. The trails have expansive views of the Sandia Mountains to the north, the Manzanos and the Cedro Peak. Some of the descents are tricky due to the loose rocky stretches so know your skill level.

The Chama - Antonito - Tres Piedras Loop is a very scenic, moderate ride through the forests in northern New Mexico, mostly on lightly traveled highways. This ride goes through large aspen forests that in the fall (September) change from green to vivid yellow, oranges and reds that are hard to beat. Be prepared for cold (freezing) mornings and warm afternoons this time of year. The route from Chama to Mogote climbs Cumbres Pass (10,015) and La Manga Pass (10,230') which are only moderate climbs. You can even race the train up to Cumbres Pass from Chama. The route follows the scenic Conejos River to Mogote, west of Antonito, CO. The route then turns south on US285 to Tres Piedras passing San Antonio Mountain where there is often antelope grazing. The route then turns east climbing to terrific views of the Brazos Cliffs before a swift descent to Tierra Amarilla. The ride north to Chama completes the loop. Take water and food along and be prepared for storms.

The Chama - Antonito - Tres Piedras Loop is a very scenic, moderate ride through the forests in northern New Mexico, mostly on lightly traveled highways. This ride goes through large aspen forests that in the fall (September) change from green to vivid yellow, oranges and reds that are hard to beat. Be prepared for cold (freezing) mornings and warm afternoons this time of year. The route from Chama to Mogote climbs Cumbres Pass (10,015) and La Manga Pass (10,230') which are only moderate climbs. You can even race the train up to Cumbres Pass from Chama. The route follows the scenic Conejos River to Mogote, west of Antonito, CO. The route then turns south on US285 to Tres Piedras passing San Antonio Mountain where there is often antelope grazing. The route then turns east climbing to terrific views of the Brazos Cliffs before a swift descent to Tierra Amarilla. The ride north to Chama completes the loop. Take water and food along and be prepared for storms.

The Cloudcroft "Ride to the Clouds" Loop is a spectacular ride in the Sacramento Mountains in the Lincoln National Forest east of Alamogordo. The ride starts in Tularosa (4,520') and rides south almost to Alamogordo with the junction with US82, then climbs east to Cloudcroft (pop. 600, elev. 8,650') for the night. The following day the route continues east from Cloudcroft on NM244 through the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation on US70 to Mescalero (pop. 1,300, elev. 6,600'), then downhill to Tularosa. The steady climb (~4,135', 6%) from the junction of US82 and US54 climbs east from the Tularosa Basin into Ponderosa forests through canyons lined with sedimentary rocky cliffs. The convienence store at the 2-mile mark is the last chance before serious climbing begins. The only highway tunnel in Southern New Mexico is at the 7.3 mile mark on the climb up to Cloudcroft. A parking area just west (downhill) of the tunnel affords a spectacular view of Fresnal Canyon which has some prehistorical sites, White Sands, and the Tularosa Basin. High Rolls at about 8 miles (half way!) has a gas station/store. At 15.5 miles, just before Cloudcroft, is another pull-off area where you can stop and look at the spectacular railroad trestle spanning the Mexican Canyon. There are hiking and mountain biking trails in this area, see the Rails-to-Trails links below. Just as you enter Cloudcroft at 16 miles, there is a nice picnic ground and bathrooms uphill to the right. The route continues straight through (east) Cloudcroft downhill to the well-marked turn on NM244 to Mescalareo. After the left turn on NM244 there is a moderate climb through Ponderosa forests. There are a couple of USFS campgounds along the way. Then there is a nice long downhill following a drainage where the canyon starts widening out. Then there is an unmarked left turn at "Elk Canyon" and a uphill climb again through open forests. After topping out there is a nice downhill all the way to US70. Turn left going west on US70 using the nice shoulders. Descend throu

The 20+-mile Santa Fe Dale Ball Foothill Trail System has been developed by a joint effort of the city of Santa Fe, Santa Fe county, the Foothills Trail Trust, and other private landowners. The single-track trails have a great surface but are steep and have a lot of switchbacks that have sharp turns. The system consists of a maze of trails but each intersection has a numbered marker and a map. The system does not cover a lot of territory but zig-zags around several hills and crosses the road in places. The trails are right up against private properties in several places. The trailheads have a system map posted

This is an out-and-back ride along the eastern edge of the El Malpais lava flow. The scenery is fantastic, with wonderful views over the lava beds to the west and the steep cliffs of mesas to the east. You also stop at La Ventana, the largest natural arch in the state.

The El Malpais National Monument via NM53 begins and ends at the Grant's government center on the main road in Grants near the museum. Head south on NM53 through ponderosa and pinon pine forests with nice views.

The El Morro National Monument Ride out and back is a terrific spring or fall ride. This a delightful tour that goes through red-rock terrain, wildflowers, and pinon and ponderosa pine forests. This is a fairly moderate tour with no big hills and the one climb up the continental divide only gains about 370'. Follow NM53 south from the vicinity of Grants. There is a new El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center 23 miles south of Grants on NM53 that has interesting information and water. Further south you pass the Bandera Volcano Cone entrance before climbing the Continental Divide.

The scenic El Rito Loop in scenic northern New Mexico follows the Rio Chama, El Rito and the Rio Ojo Caliente. There are great views of the northern Jemez Mountains and the classic Cerro Pedernal (9,862') to the south in the Santa Fe National Forest. To the east you can see the Truchas Peaks and Santa Fe Baldy in the Sangre de Cristo Range. Being a loop this ride can start anywhere along the loop, e.g. in Abiquiu or Ojo Caliente.

The El Tour de Valencia takes the rider through some very scenic areas of the Rio Communities south of Albuquerque. The countryside is pure New Mexico pastoral, with horses grazing in cultivated fields fed by ancient acequias, or irrigation ditches. The ride is on mainly 2 line roads with no shoulders with light to moderate traffic. The tour tries to avoid highways like NM47 or NM314 with heavy traffic but does get on them occasionally. The ride is pretty flat and best done in the spring or fall to avoid the afternoon heat in the valley. The small hills on the Manzano Expressway give a good view of the valley and Tome Hill. Thanks to Tom Sanderson for developing this tour.

The Emory Pass Climb in southwest New Mexico is a strenuous but beautiful ride.You can stay in Silver City and drive an hour to Kingston and have someone drop you off there. Have low gears since there is a steep, steady climb of 8 miles from Kingston to Emory Pass. Then there are the sweeping turns downhill to NM61 at San Lorenzo. From there there are rolling hills into Silver City. The climb out of Kingston begins with several miles at 5% but levels off. The traffic is light and the road surface is good though no shoulders. The views are awesome. The descent through the ponderosa forest is wonderful. The lookout at Emory Pass is worth a short detour. The descent west goes through Gallenas canyon which has dramatic rock formations. Bicycling Magazine has written up the ride as one of the great climbs in the country in a past issue. The remainder of the ride into Silver City are large rolling hills. There is a great view of the Hurley open-pit mine and the Kneeling Nun rock formation along the way. The road from Hillsboro to Kingston goes through Percha canyon which has dramatic rock formations.

The Enchanted Circle Ride is one of the best rides in New Mexico. The ride starts in Taos and goes to Questa and Red River before returning. There are two high climbs on the ride. Palo Flechado Pass and Bobcat Pass.

The Taos High Country Tour, also know as the Enchanted Circle, is one of the most favorite tours in New Mexico. Many of the commercial and charity rides include this scenic loop in their tours. THCT has spectacular vistas of northern New Mexico's Enchanted Circle. Gaze at the highest peaks of New Mexico, ride over challenging passes, and scream down awesome downhill runs. Ride through the beautiful Moreno valley. The ride from Taos to Questa ascends some large rolling hills with open vistas of the mountains east of Taos and the area of the ski area. Then you are rewarded with the high speed descent into Questa which is one of the finest in the state: straight, clean, fast, and lots of visibility. The moderate climb up the Red River canyon from Questa to Red River is truly spectacular. Colorful cliffs line either side of the canyon as you ride through the national forests following the pretty Red River. The large mine tailings above on the canyon walls are part of the closed Molycorp molybdenum mine. You pass several USFA campgrounds. Once in Red River check out all the tourist traps but it is a pretty town. There is a steep 4 mile climb up Bobcat Pass (9,820') but only the first two miles from Red River are hard. Then there is a lovely 13-mile descent from Bobcat to Eagle Nest through the beautiful Moreno Valley and it's mostly downhill the entire way. (Watch for the field-dragon). The Disabled American Veterans Memorial is between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire. From the intersection at Angel Fire, US64 up and over Palo Flechado Pass (9,101') is narrow and there are a few switchbacks where you need to watch so that you don't get side-swiped by an R/V who has never driven on a hill. Since this is a loop tour you can choose to start and end anywhere.

Round trip from Las Vegas, NM to Civil War Ft. Union Route can be combined with Lollipop Loop for a two day trip.

The classic Gila Inner Loop Tour traditionally begins and ends at Silver City WalMart. The Gila Inner Loop is one of the favorite tours in New Mexico. It has light to no traffic and has stupendous views. The best times of the year are spring and fall to avoid the heat. There are moderate but not extreme climbs. The loop itself is doable in a single long hard day. A favorite option is the challenging descent and climb out of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Just east of the route, on the way to Kingston and Hillsboro, the Emory Pass Option climbs through the Black Range, another favorite route.

This ride is out-and-back ride, starting at the old "Big Chief" gas station (now closed) across from Zia Pueblo on US 550. Ride west on US-550 toward San Ysidro with the Jemez Mountains in the background. That's White Mesa straight ahead with the white gypsum mines on top. After crossing the Rio Salado, enter San Ysidro where there is a convenience store. Turning right on NM 4 travel through San Ysidro and begin the gradual climb to Jemez Pueblo. You ride north through the picturesque Jemez River Canyon. There is another stop at the Jemez Pueblo Walatowa Visitor Center and gas station at Red Rocks. Then you follow the pleasant, cottonwood tree-lined Jemez River to the intersection with NM 485. Then left and climb Guadalupe Canyon surrounded by dramatic mesas through the small town of Gilman to the tunnels and the end of pavement. On the return route you have impressive views of the Sandia Mountains to the east in front of you along US 550.

The Gilman Tunnels Mountain Bike Loop in the Jemez Mountains is a beautiful, easy to intermediate mountain bike ride. No food or water for next 34 miles.

The Lake Cochiti/Tent Rocks Ride ride begins at the intersection I-25 and NM 22 north of Albuquerque at the Santo Domingo turnoff. This ride has superb views of the Jemez mountains to the west, the northern Sandias to the south and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the north. Tetilla Peak is the small bump on the ridge to the northwest. Further to the west in the Jemez Mountains is Peter's Dome and Boundary Peak.

This is the last ride that NMTS member Lee Hilley led for the club, so this ride is in her memory. Come on out and honor Lee's indomitable spirit. Here is Lee's description: "This is not a particularly easy ride but all due diligence will be directed toward the slug contingent so no one will be left behind. The ups and downs will be concentrated on the first half with some fun roller-coaster moments. This will be in newer developments in the NW area with PAVED ROADS! Lucky people. Then we'll dip south around the city limits and finally return to the start through the city."

Combine with the Fort Union ride for a two day weekend.

The popular Los Lunas Lunacy out and back ride begins and ends at the Los Lunas Municipal Offices parking lot in Los Lunas on NM6 about 2 miles east of I-25 on the south side. There is no water once you cross under I-25. The route crosses pretty scenery, flat, open, low elevation, and hot, but is vulnerable to the wind. The road is 2-lane with no shoulders but little traffic once west of I-25. This route is a favorite with racers since it is fairly flat, with no stop signs, straight, fairly flat, and light traffic.

The Messilla Metric Century is a scenic ride in the south part of the state. It is pretty flat. This rides through pecan orchards and historic Ft. Selden. Since this is a loop Ft. Selden is a good place to start and end.

The Moriarty - Mountainair - Tijeras Loop is long loop in the East Mountains running from Tijeras to Moriarty to Estancia to Mountainair to Tajique to Tijeras. This entire ride has great views of the Manzano Mountains and Manzano Peak (10,098') to the west. As you ride south from Estancia, Mesa Jumanas is visible to the south. The route is mostly in the open so vulnerable to winds and summer thunderstorms. The total mileage depends on where you start and stop. The leg from Mountainair to Estancia and onto US60 is quite flat and fast. The description below begins and ends in Tijeras. The nicest section is from Moriarty south through Estancia to US60, flat straight, and fast. NM41 south of Moriarty is the Salt Missions Scenic Byway. The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument visitor center for the Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivira Ruins is at the Shaffer hotel at the corner of Broadway & Ripley in Mountainair. The ruins are worth a visit

A loop east of the Manzano Mountains, starting / ending in Estancia and passing through the towns of Tajique, Torreon, Manzano, Punta de Agua, and Mountainair. Lunch in Mountainair at about mile 35. Nice views and wide open spaces, although wind can be an issue.

Day one of the five day 2016 NMTS Summer tour in New Mexico and Colorado.

Day two of the five day 2016 NMTS Summer tour in New Mexico and Colorado.

Day three of the five day 2016 NMTS Summer tour in New Mexico and Colorado

Day four of the five day 2016 NMTS Summer tour in New Mexico and Colorado.

Day five of the five day 2016 NMTS Summer tour in New Mexico and Colorado.

This ride is a terrific, scenic out and back ride in the Santa Fe National Forest to the edge of the Pecos Wilderness. Most of the route follows the Pecos River. You can now ride pavement all the way past Cowles to the end of pavement at Jack's Creek USFS campground and trailhead. You can begin at the Pecos National Historical Park. Pay the $3.00 entry fee and park in the nice picnic area by the park headquarters and have a picnic on the return. Tour the old mission, ruins, and visitor center next to it.

This is a 60 mile loop from Springer to the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch and Cimarron.

2 day loop, 110 miles. A classic NMTS ride featuring ghost towns, mining history, and the smell of red chile drying and great barbeque in Hillsboro.

The new Santa Fe Bypass and the reconstructed US285 north of Santa Fe now provide a reasonable way to ride from Santa Fe north and plenty of day ride opportunities. One of these day rides is the Santa Fe ByPass Out and Back. This route is mainly out in the open with great views in all directions of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains. This tour avoids taking the section of US285 that goes by the opera that has no frontage road by going through the village of Tesuque and Ridge Top and Tano Roads. See the cuesheet below. Us the Old Taos Highway from the center of Santa Fe to connect with the frontage road along US285. The north end of Old Taos Highway is closed but bicycles can ride along it and a bike path to US285. This is a nice route.

This is not an official map of the Santa Fe Century. This map is provided for NMTS members who might not know the route so that they can ride all or part of the route. There are long isolated stretches on the route where there is no water or supplies available. It is advisable to have support. The route is mainly out in the open so riders are vulnerable to the wind and summer thunderstorms. Be prepared. The temperatures get pretty high in the summer and it can snow in Santa Fe in November so this is a spring/fall ride. Heartbreak Hill is pretty steep. In the spring watch for sand on the downhill sections from winter snow sand trucks until rains wash it off.

The classic Santa Fe Ski Area Climb starts and ends at the de Vargas Mall on Paseo de Peralta. You climb through forests of ponderosa and aspen forests in the Santa Fe National Forest to the ski area on the Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway. There are several terrific overlooks on the way up of the Jemez area to the west. Towards the top you pass the Aspen Vista trailhead which is a terrific mountain bike climb to the top of the mountain and ski area. This is mainly a long steady grind but there are a few steep stretches like at Hyde Park. Take a locking cable so you can walk around the ski area. The ski lift may be running and you can get a lift to the top of the ski area. It is such a pretty area spend some time at the top. It's a terric descent. The elevation at the base of the ski area is 10,350' and the summit is12,053

This ride in central New Mexico is a beautiful ride. The route is pretty flat which makes it a great beginner's or morning ride. This ride takes you into the rural lands of Laguna Pueblo east of Grants. This ride goes into mesa lands east of Mt. Taylor riding through open terrain with scattered juniper and cedar trees along the way. There is evidence of past volcanic activity from the volcanic rocks along the way. There is a little light traffic.

Si New Mexico is a north to south cross-state road ride running mostly north to south from Colorado to old Mexico. Many options are possible. There is a Great Divide moutain bike route established by Adventure Cycling. This route is a work in progress since the highway system is always changing, not always to the betterment of bicycling. In particular, the roads in the Santa Fe area is hazardous. Expect several days of 2000+ feet of climbing. The options below are one-way north to south routes and require a pickup at the end of the ride.

A classic NMTS ride featuring antelope herds, the Plain of Augustine, and the Very Large Array.

The Southern Enchanted Century Loop begins and ends at Ranchos de Taos. This spectacular, scenic ride is a demanding, take plenty of water and food. Be prepared for storms. There are a number of towns along the way where you can get food and water but not much between. Note the elevation gain. There are several hard climbs. For the most part there is minimal traffic, no shoulders, but the road surfaces are decent. Thanks to Tom Sullivan for developing this ride.

The Taos Dixon - US Hill Loop is a scenic, moderate road ride in northern New Mexico south of Taos that has a fair amount of climbing and rides through sections of the hilly, ponderosa forested Carson National Forest. Taos (elev. 6,965') is a very popular tourist area and has a lot of road and mountain biking in the area.

The Taos High Country Tour, also know as the Enchanted Circle, is one of the most favorite tours in New Mexico. Many of the commercial and charity rides include this scenic loop in their tours. THCT has spectacular vistas of northern New Mexico's Enchanted Circle. Gaze at the highest peaks of New Mexico, ride over challenging passes, and scream down awesome downhill runs. Ride through the beautiful Moreno valley.

The Taos Ski Area Climb starts and ends at the intersection of NM522/US64/NM150, the road to the ski area. This is a picturesque ride north of fashionable Taos, NM that is a moderate climb that has great views of the mountains and the Rio Grande valley. This can be combined with the Taos High Country Loop as a nice climb after the ride is over. The route begins with the ride to Arroyo Seco.

The Chama - Antonito - Tres Piedras Loop is a very scenic, moderate ride through the forests in northern New Mexico, mostly on lightly traveled highways. This ride goes through large aspen forests that in the fall (September) change from green to vivid yellow, oranges and reds that are hard to beat. Be prepared for cold (freezing) mornings and warm afternoons this time of year.

The popular, interesting Trinity Site Tour begins and ends in San Antonio, 10 miles south of Socorro. The Trinity Site is the site of the first detonation of an atomic bomb in 1945. The scenery is wonderful, since the area has not been grazed since 1945. The tour is quite flat but there may be winds since it is wide open. There are great views of the low Oscura Mountains to the east. The Little Burro Mountains are visible to the southeast of the route and the Mockingbird Mountains are south. Interestingly, the southern-most road is the northern perimeter of the White Sands Missile Range Century that starts and ends in Tularosa. There is no public vehicular traffic after entering the Stallion gate which is a real treat. Since we ride on the weekend there is very little worker vehicle traffic. Spring or fall is the best time for this ride since it is very hot in the summer.

This is an out-and-back ride starting in Jemez Springs and heading north / east on NM 4 up to the Valles Caldera. Lots of climbing, with some relatively steep sections. Beautiful scenery and some great descents on the return leg.

The 8-mile White Sands National Monument Dunes Road is a fascinating ride just west of Alamogordo. The ride starts at the interesting WSNM Visitors Center about 13 miles west of Alamogordo on US70. Allow time to tour the Visitor's Center to learn the origin of White Sands. Although the road is only 8 miles each way plan for an entire morning so that you have time to stop at the numerous pullouts and trails. The monument has great views of the Sacramento Mountains east of Alamogordo.

The Alpine Loop Mountain Bike Ride is an awesome trip, long, intense, but incredibly scenic. The ridge between Engineer Pass (12,780 ft.) and Cinnamon Pass (12,620 ft.) is worth the entire trip.The route between the passes follows an exposed ridge above tree line with views in all directions for miles. The route passes old mining ruins and ghost towns like Capitol homestead. Mill Creek and Henson Creeks are lovely drainages. The route looks down into Silverton and Ouray and the 14'ers in the area, Redcloud, Sunshine, Handies, Uncompahgre, and the Wetterhorn, are all visible.

This ride goes to Arches National Park. It claims to be one of the finest bike rides in the U. S. with unparalleled views! Note that there is no food available along the route outside of Moab. Water is only available at the Visitor's Center and at the Trail Head at Devil's garden at the turn around.

The Big Bend Roundup is a 6-day ride in the Texas Big Bend area that has been presented by a NMTS ride leader. Ride through Big Bend National Park in the southern most part of Texas. Big Bend NP is the largest park in Texas. From an elevation of less than 2,000 feet along the Rio Grande to nearly 8,000 feet in the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend includes massive canyons, vast desert expanses, and the entire Chisos Mountain range. The road up to Mt. Locke, near Ft. Davis, known as the steepest road in Texas, is the location of McDonald Observatory of the University of Texas. There are tours and a visitor center. Spend the night in Marfa looking for the Marfa Mystery Lights (ha ha). Check out the Ft. Davis National Historic Site, a well preserved late 1800's Army post. The ride from Big Bend to Presidio is loaded with very interesting scenery. Terlingua, east of Lajita, is a ghost town where cinnabar was once mined. This ride should be done in the spring or fall due to the high summer temperatures. The Big Bend National Park web site has temperature averages, daily temperatures, and campground and lodge status. There is quite a bit of elevation gain though at lower elevations. The park is busy during spring break when there is a good temperature range but is pretty deserted otherwise. The in-park campgrounds are often filled during spring break.

This ride is a loop that takes you into the mountains up the “Big Nasty” to return along the river. Note that some of the climb is very steep. Note that outside of Moab, the only place to get food or water on this ride is at is at the Red Cliffs Lodge around mile 45.

https://nmts.org/rides/CLN.html

Day four of the four day 2015 NMTS Summer tour in Colorado

Day one of the four day 2015 NMTS Summer tour in Colorado.

Day three of the four day 2015 NMTS Summer tour in Colorado

Day two of the four day 2015 NMTS Summer tour in Colorado.

Ride down the Colorado River South of Moab. This short flat ride starts at the center of Moab at Center St. and US 191. Be sure to stop and see the petroglyphs along the route.

Ride up and over Cucharas Pass to North Lake. Return by same route.

This ride goes to Dead Horse Point State Park. You follow the bike path from Moab along US 191 with a gradual climb through the Moab Fault. As you climb, look back to the east for great views of Arches national park. Once you get to the Park there are scenic views 2,000 feet above the Colorado River. The ending of the movie "Thelma and Louise" was filmed here.

This is the route of the annual summer Durango 100. From Santa Rita Park follow the sparkling Animas River downhill until the rollers of Piñon Hills Blvd. in Farmington. Then climb back uphill through the La Plata River Valley including Marvel, Colorado.

The North La Veta Pass Ride is an out and back 50 mile ride.

The Saguache / Lake City / Gunnison 4-Day Loop rides through some of the most scenic areas of Colorado. The loop begins and ends at Saguache. These routes are mainly on roads with light traffic, shoulders, and super views. Lake City is a great place to start for mountain biking. The Alpine Loop is a great MTB tour. There are a number of 14'ers near Lake City. 250 Miles, 10,400 feet elevation gain. There are several steep climbs but are fairly short.

The San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado are some of the most dramatic scenic areas anywhere. In the San Juans you can hike, climb 14'ers, mountain bike, backcountry telemark in the winter, mountain bike, and road bike, and more. The following are a few road rides in the San Juans popular with club members. All the routes have extensive views in all directions of the peaks of the San Juans. You climb through aspen groves to the spruce forests on Red Mountain Pass. Lower down you climb through aspen groves. There has been extensive mining in the area, especially around Silverton and Ouray and there are numerous abandoned mining structures along the route. You can base camp in Durango, Ouray, or Silverton.

Sunset Crater and Wupatki, Arizona, National Moments Loop Beautiful but deceptively hilly ride. At the low point you are approximately 2500 ft lower than in Flagstaff. On the day we rode, the temperatures were about 20 degrees hotter at the low elevation and we were pretty uncomfortable. We would have been happier if we started where the ride leaves US 89 (about 25.6 miles in on this route).

Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club standard ride.

The West Texas Caprock Loop is a 7-day loop ride in west Texas. This loop travels the back roads through West Texas small towns and stops at various B & B's along the way. This loop can be done self-supported or by using a sag vehicle to carry luggage. It gets pretty hot in the summer so travel in the spring or fall. It can get pretty windy. The B&Bs (which provided breakfast) are great and you can purchase dinners and all the lunches, snacks, beverages and sustenance needed each day. Some of the B&Bs have twin beds so that a room could be shared. 424 paved miles, 7 riding days.