EnchantedCirlce Century Tour 2007 RedRiver

[zondian]

Hello, I am new here. Just wondering if any are going to RedRiver, NM this Saturday for the century tour. It will be my first one. It looks challenging and I am looking forward to it, but a bit nervous. Looking at the elevation gain maps is somewhat comforting, that is, focusing on the downhill portions!:rolleyes:

[Starfish]

Ooooh, have fun! You have no idea how I wish I was doing a tour in NM!! Alas, stuck up here in WA state.

Have a great time, and welcome to TE! :)

[zondian]

I am a total newbie, thank you for the welcome:) Having not even completed, let alone STARTED my first century ride, I find myself wanting to plan the next one . . . Will be riding alone (with 700 other people) on Saturday, and I am hoping to meet some buddies along the way. It is so much easier when I have been riding when I go with a friend, the hills are always easier, why is that? I just want to complete the ride.

Wa state is so lovely, I was born and raised there (spokane, walla walla, tri-cities, puyallup, seattle), moved just a few years ago to NM. I used to come back to visit Seattle, but now I can see it will all be about biking trips.

[Starfish]

Hey Zondian...I did my first century solo (STP)...you can too!

I LOVE eastern WA. Went to WSU and lived/worked in Spokane awhile. I don't love western WA at all (climate, crowded), but am here for awhile.

Enjoy NM!! There is some kind of tour there I dream of doing...forget the exact name...Tour de Peaks? Not sure.

[zondian]

Hm, now I am curious which one that might be, and I'm going to look for it. I have been voracious reading about all of the organized rides around here, because it is hard sometimes to find someone to do the long rides with. There is the Tour of the Gila, that's the big yearly one, but I'm going to look for the one you described.

There are just so many remote highways and roads here, good riding country. I read a statistic: 1.8-2. million people in King County, Wa (which is 20 or 40? square miles), and there are the same number of people in the state of NM which is the 5th largest state! That's supposed to make one feel better about the traffic when cycling here . . .

[Starfish]

Hm, now I am curious which one that might be, and I'm going to look for it.

The one I'm thinking of was in northern NM, with a lot of climbing. Wish I could remember the name. My ex-husband did it, and I think his jersey said Tour De Peaks, but I can't remember. That was several years ago.

But, I LOVE NM, and I love to climb, so it has stayed in the back of my head.

[Aggie_Ama]

There are a couple other gals doing this ride. I will be doing it in 2008, DH couldn't get off that much time this fall. :(

[zondian]

Wow, how hard is it to adjust to the altitude for you or your friends, being from Texas? I live at 6000 ft currently, so not too bad for me.

[Aggie_Ama]

Good question, that is the reason we are not doing it this year. We live at about 1,200 ft and would only be able to arrive on Thursday. Next year we will be able to get in on Sunday or Monday and get used to the altitude. My husband used to vacation in Red River and does not recall getting altitude sickness. I went to Colorado and had no issues at 13,000 feet but we aren't taking any chances.

[Deborajen]

I've never done the Enchanted Circle Century (or any other century for that matter ;) ), but it sounds like a beautiful and exciting ride. My parents live near Albuquerque so we go through the area periodically on our way to see them.

Since I live in Kansas, we don't ride in mountains here - just hills and weather. I can't imagine a mountain ride for a first century. Good for you! Be sure to post a full report afterwards - can't wait to hear about it. :)

Deb

[Tri Girl]

I had a friend who did this last year and she had a BLAST! I know you're going to have a wonderful time. I did my first century solo (but there were only about 100 other people- so it really was alone :) ). You'll have a great time, meet lots of new people, and surely find someone who's traveling the same speed as you and you can either just hang around them or strike up a conversation. Please take pictures while you're out there and post back to tell us ALL about it!!! Such beautiful scenery- how could it NOT be a great ride?

Oh- and welcome to the boards! :)