Biking the Enchante Circle- Long but has pcitures! :)
Look at all those typos, I can't edit the title. :(
Okay better late then never, I really wanted to tell the story with pictures! It was EPIC, sunburn, bear sighting, mechanical and well heck of a long saddle time!
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At the end of July my husband took me to his favorite childhood vacation spot, Red River, NM. As soon as it was planned I had one goal- make it around the Enchanted Circle by bike. I thought it might be hard, sure but I could do it. I put a 12-27 cassette on my triple, rode the Davis Mountains to train and brought my game face! The altitude was not treating me well, again I had trouble eating much like I did in the Davis Mountains but I wasn't going to not do this ride. We arrived Sunday and planned the ride for Wednesday hoping I might acclimate better.
We got up that morning and ate breakfast in town then headed back to the lodge (note: the town is great because you can walk EVERYWHERE, we drove once in our week long stay). At the lodge I spent 20 minutes debating knickers or shorts with knee warmers because it was only about 55 degrees that morning and if my knees get cold I am done. I decided I would be more comfortable in knickers than taking off the knee warmers, mistake made as it was close to 90 in Taos and the surrounding valley.
We headed out on the route counter clockwise because I didn't want to start on Bobcat pass. My guide book my last Secret Sister sent had recommended going up the Pass first. The way we did it is the route the organized century does so I thought it might be easier. Definitely not in Texas anymore:
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The first 10 miles we so easy it was just silly, completely downhill to Questa. We averaged close to 30mph to Questa! No wonder I look so darn happy, here I shed the folding jacket.
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After Questa came the grind to Taos. There are some really fast and fun downhills but there are some really long grinds uphill. Here I am attempting to climb a brutally long hill. I was rewarded on the other side with a really fast downhill, in fact DH hit his PB speed.
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After the climbing we were in flatlands leading up to Taos and I noticed my bike was bouncy in the back. I stopped DH and sure enough I had a slow flat, great. When the rear wheel was removed we noticed a bigger problem, a cut tire. We booted the tire and rode on to Taos about 5 miles ahead. We knew from the drive up there would be a bike shop on the main road through town. Stopped in at Gearing Up bike Shop and $70 later was rolling out on a brand new Specialized Armadillo. The shop gave us a suggestion to eat sandwiches at this local deli called Lula's, so we rode on our way. I wish I had noticed I was getting sunburnt and bought the sunscreen the shop was selling. Dumb fair skinned me forgot to put sunscreen on that morning! Lunch was a welcome rest. We met some colorful character who claimed to be a "biker" and wanted to buy my Amici Veloci buff. My husband told him it was special and no price would sell it. I was kinda frightened of the guy because he wouldn't back off. I am trying to remember if I ate all of lunch in my helmet, as tired as I already was I probably did! Lula's was nice and let us fill all 6 of our bottles out of the bottled water machine, I had asked to use the bathroom tap but they said take the spring water. Good place for an on the bike lunch but a bit pricey.
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After Taos I had no idea what was coming. I thought it was a mostly flat ride to the base of Palo Flecha Pass- wrong. It was a 15 mile false flat of hell. I hate those invisible hills. At this point things were kind of wrong for me. No gear felt right, my legs were heavy and I was struggling to stay in the double digits on speed. I have no cadence sensor right now but I know the cadence was low. I was just a mess and desperate because we were barely halfway. The ride was pretty and I was trying to enjoy that since I was so frustrated. DH was still fresh as a daisy when we entered the National Forest again. I know it says leaving but the other side said entering but was covered in graffiti. :(
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So through the forest we climb and climb to Palo Flecha Pass. Amazingly on the pass I sprung wings. I really was able to climb with some gusto. It is a pretty nice climb, a bit winding but nice.
Here I come- check out the sign!
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DH pretending he won King of the Mountains:
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The elevation confirmation 9,101 feet:
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After this was the scariest and most fun descent ever! It was switchback city and we flew down to Angel Fire. It was a blast and I impressed myself with my bike handling. Angel Fire meant more fluids, a clean port-a-potty (the station's bathroom offering) and a much needed Coke! Then it was onto Eagle Nest. Another false flat in a head wind we didn't know about. It was all open and really sucked the life out of me, as it there was any left! We did get some nice photos, the second two have been printed for my bike bathroom. :)
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Finally we head on to the dreaded Bobcat Pass. What we didn't know going this way is the valley leading to it continues a gradual ascent. It was painful on our already taxed legs. But the valley where mining cabins once ruled was pretty, there are even ruins of the old Elizabethtown (no photos they are too far off the road).
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I told DH at the base to climb and wait at the top because we had cell coverage at the base and figured we would at the top. He took off and I started to grind. About .75 miles into the four mile climb I saw a bear! DH had the camera so I have absolutely no proof but it was by my guess a young but old enough to be free from Mama bear. He/she ran straight across the road about .25 miles ahead of me. It was scary and cool at the same time. I pushed and pushed and pushed some more to make it to the summit. I stopped many times and got back on. Finally when DH was convinced I was close, I couldn't push anymore. He was too exhausted to come down and cheer me along, so I hoofed it to the summit. Many times I wanted to get back on but I couldn't mount the bike. I ended up walking almost .5 miles of the pass. DH told me later he really didn't know how he made it and he thought walking so little was still a huge victory. As time has passed it feels more like a defeat. :(
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After walking we got to descend 5 miles to our hotel. I was exhausted but we went to dinner at one of the nicer places. The altitude and sunburn meant I ate half my food and felt awful. I did it but it wasn't pretty. 85.6 miles at 10.7 mph of torture! We are already discussing our next trip there and doing it all over again.
