Tour of the Rio Grande Valley (TORGV)

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.

"109" Mile Century Cuesheet, 830 ft. Elevation Gain

TORGV Century CueSheet // 109 Miles, 830 Ft. Elevation Gain Leg Mileage Leg Description 0 Kit Carson Park. Tingley & Alcalde Pl. Ride South on Tingley 0.8 Left (E) on Marquez 1 Right (S) on 8th 1.2 Left (E) on Bridge 1.3 Right (S) on 4th 1.5 Left (E) on Southern - Jog to 2nd 1.6 Right (S) on 2nd 4.4 Right (W) on Rio Bravo. Pass NM314 7.5 Left (S) on Coors (NM45) for 8 miles. 15.? Left (E) on Isleta78. There is supposed to be a turn here but few, including us, saw it. This is the first turn we missed. 16.1 Left (E) on BIA317 and NM314 - There is supposed to be a left turn at Isleta78 at about 15.8 but we never saw it. This turn gets you onto NM314. Most other people went this way too. Remember this intersection for the century return. 17 NM314&NM147 Jct: Right (S) on NM147. Curves left (E). NM314 (Isleta Blvd) goes north back to Albuquerque. 17.8 Rest Stop at Rio Grande. Continue on NM147 across the river. 18.2 NM47&NM147: Turn RIGHT (S) on NM47 here. Remember this intersection for the century return trip leg. Follow NM47 for 18.5 miles to the critical turn at NM304. 21 Bosque Farms - Continue South (straight) 25.25 NM6: Century continues straight. 50 Mile Turn. Easy to miss sign. 36.5 NM309: Century Riders Stay Alert! Continue straight on NM47 1/4 Mile for next turn! 75 Mile Turn. 36.75 NM304: Turn right (SW) off NM47. NM304 looks like a side street with 2 lanes and no shoulders while NM47 continues due south, 4 lanes and shoulders. This is THE most commonly missed turn every year. TORGV2000 was no exception. If you do miss this turn continue to NM60 and turn right (W) to I-40 for 17 bonus miles. 53.3 NM60: Right (W) to Bernardo. 56.5 Bernardo, I-40 Rest Stop: Small convienence store. Ride North on NM116, on the west side of I-40. From here the only rest stop is back at Isleta at NM47&147. Take advantage of Belen and Los Lunas for food and drinks. Ride N on NM116. 72.9 NM116 joins NM314, continue north. 73.9 NM309: Continue straight (N) on NM314. Belen. A turn for the 75-mile loop. 84.2 NM6: Continue north. Los Lunas. A turn for 50-mile loop. By the way, there is a builder's supply & hardware store about a 1 mile east from this intersection. 91 BIA317 & NM314 Jct.: Turn right(E) onto NM314. This is that intersection at 16.1 again. 92.2 NM314 & NM147: Sharp Right Turn on NM147. Don't Turn left (N) onto NM314 here! NM314, Isleta Blvd. will get you back. tWe went back this way since all the signs had blown off. The mileages past here are approximate since we took the "Isleta Option" back. 93 Rest Stop - maybe there is something left to eat. 93.3 NM47: Turn Left (N) here for the official ride back. You turned right (S) here at 18.2 before. 97.8 Pass under I-25. Continue north. 98.4 Left (W) on Atchinson, curve north. 100.9 Right (N) on 2nd St 101.9 Left (W) onto the bikepath just before the small grocery store. 103.7 Bikepath: Pass under Rio Bravo, continue straight (N) 106.5 Bikepath: Pass under Bridge, continue straight (N) 107.5 Cross Tingley to Kit Carson Park.

Isleta Blvd Return Option

Actually this option wasn't too bad, more direct and had only light traffic.

Isleta Blvd Return Option CueSheet Leg Mileage Leg Description 92 NM314&NM147: Turn north on NM314, Isleta Blvd. 100 Pass Rio Bravo - continue on Isleta North. 103.2 Right(E) on Bridge, cross the Rio Grande, drop down on the right to the Riverside Bikepath. Turn north on the bikepath. 105 Cross Tingley to Kit Carson Park

Isleta Pueblo Crossover Detail