Watermelon Gravel Grinder
August 13th, 2016
Rob Douangpanya and Gerhardt Ackerman
is the coordinators for this ride.
They will handle any proposed route changes,
pre-rides, ride day sign-in/sign-out, etc.
Thanks Rob & Gerhardt !!!
is the coordinators for this ride.
They will handle any proposed route changes,
pre-rides, ride day sign-in/sign-out, etc.
Thanks Rob & Gerhardt !!!
This is fully unsupported and you will need to be self-sufficient in order to complete.
Please make sure to read all rules for this ride.
The rules are located HERE.
No more than 74 people allowed for this ride!
When: August 13th, 2016
- 8:30 am for Full route (That is start riding at 8:30 am…)
- 9 am for Intermediate route (That is start riding at 9 am…)
1800 Mountain Road NW,
Albuquerque, NM 87104 |
What: Team format gravel grinder
- FULL ROUTE ~100miles. 7,000 feet of climbing. 9 dirt Secteurs for over 25 miles of dirt..
- Intermediate Route ~ 72miles. 5000 feet of climbing. One 7.3 mile dirt secteur.
- Easy Route – there isn’t one!
- There will be separate bragging rights for women’s teams!
GPS Tracks:
- No warranty, express or implied, use at your own discretion.
- Garmin users can download directly into their supported devices from the Garmin Connect pages below. Be sure to a test “Do course” to make sure the track downloaded properly.
- You can also export the track to GPX from these pages, load into TopoFusion and then download to your GPS. Use this option for non Garmin users and those that above option dosen’t work.
- Full Route on Garmin Connect (Must be logged into Garmin Connect)
- Intermediate Route on Garmin Connect (Must be logged into Garmin Connect)
- Go here to convert to other GPS formats
- Go here to download TopoFusion PRO Free/Demo
Introduction and TEAM Format:
This ride will follow the ‘gentleman’s format’ popularized by Rapha, with one significant adjustment to encourage wider participation: we will allow teams between 3 and 5 riders to start. Each team’s time (for bragging rights) will be recorded on the 3rd rider to finish (Think of a Grand Tour Team Time Trial where time is taken on the 5th rider and the other 4 riders are inconsequential, yet often the fastest teams are the ones that stay together). Please give your team a cool name!
This ride will follow the ‘gentleman’s format’ popularized by Rapha, with one significant adjustment to encourage wider participation: we will allow teams between 3 and 5 riders to start. Each team’s time (for bragging rights) will be recorded on the 3rd rider to finish (Think of a Grand Tour Team Time Trial where time is taken on the 5th rider and the other 4 riders are inconsequential, yet often the fastest teams are the ones that stay together). Please give your team a cool name!
Recommended Equipment:
A road bike or cyclocross bike with tire clearance to accommodate 25c tires or greater. Cyclocross File Treads in 32-38c are not a bad choice. This route is ~ ¼ dirt. And the full route includes some pretty gnarly dirt descending. Tubeless tires/wheels are highly recommended. Albuquerque and the surrounding areas are notorious for goat heads and thorns. Furthermore, many of the dirt roads are rocky so bottoming out/pinching tubes is likely. Thus, tubeless is the best choice and it will allow you to run lower pressures for more traction and comfort. Some wheels I really like that set up tubeless like a dream:
http://ridehifi.com/products/products-road-wheels/products-the-mix-tape-aluminum-clincher/
Another suggestion from riders with experience in these events is to have the strongest team member carry an extra tire so that someone’s day is not finished if they slash a tire.
A road bike or cyclocross bike with tire clearance to accommodate 25c tires or greater. Cyclocross File Treads in 32-38c are not a bad choice. This route is ~ ¼ dirt. And the full route includes some pretty gnarly dirt descending. Tubeless tires/wheels are highly recommended. Albuquerque and the surrounding areas are notorious for goat heads and thorns. Furthermore, many of the dirt roads are rocky so bottoming out/pinching tubes is likely. Thus, tubeless is the best choice and it will allow you to run lower pressures for more traction and comfort. Some wheels I really like that set up tubeless like a dream:
http://ridehifi.com/products/products-road-wheels/products-the-mix-tape-aluminum-clincher/
Another suggestion from riders with experience in these events is to have the strongest team member carry an extra tire so that someone’s day is not finished if they slash a tire.
Feeds:
I’ve listed feed opportunities (Convenience stores) and the distance between feeds below. This ride is self-supported so bring cash or card (in my experience all of these locations take cards, but no promises). 7 Feeds on the Full route, 6 on the Intermediate Route.
I’ve listed feed opportunities (Convenience stores) and the distance between feeds below. This ride is self-supported so bring cash or card (in my experience all of these locations take cards, but no promises). 7 Feeds on the Full route, 6 on the Intermediate Route.
The Routes
A) Route Description and Directions: This ride will start and end at Tiguex Park in the ‘Old Town’ neighborhood of Albuquerque under the Tiguex Park entrance arch facing Mountain Road NW. Head West from Tiguex on Mountain and turn right onto Rio Grande (heading North). Continue for ~7 miles until the intersection with Alameda. Turn right heading East for approximately 1 mile and take a left (north) onto 4th St NW. After 2 Miles continue through roundabout bearing North/Northeast onto El Camino Real/NM 313 towards Bernalillo and passing the RailRunner railroad station on your right. Continue on NM 313 for 7 miles.
Upon entering Bernalillo, turn right at the gas station (Feed Opportunity 1 – Mile 17 – next feed `5 miles) onto E Avenida Bernalillo road, which is ~ 7 miles after the NM 313 roundabout/4th Street intersection. After a short .3 mile jaunt and before the Interstate 25 underpass turn left onto S Hill Road towards the next RailRunner railroad station. At the corner, take a right heading East onto US 550/NM 165 and cross over Interstate 25. Use caution prior to the overpass when changing lanes as the bike lane becomes an on ramp for the Interstate 25 south bound traffic. Follow this highway, climbing in a general Easterly direction toward the town of Placitas. The Village Market is Feed Opportunity 2 (roughly mile 22 – last feed for the next 22 miles and tons of climbing) on the left in a shopping center about 2.5 miles from the Interstate 25 overpass.
Continue on Hwy 165 into the town of Placitas. ~7miles after the I25 overpass, veer right off the main Hwy 165 onto Paseo De San Antonio past the historic church for a little taste of quintessential New Mexican back road. This ‘Paseo’ will dump you back onto the main road Hwy 165 after 1 mile of a rolling climb, continue to the right on 165, which turns from heading East to heading gently to the South. After 1.5-2miles more you see a large green sign reading ‘Unimproved Roads’. You have reached the first dirt sector, commonly known as ATM (around the mountain) or Las Huertas Canyon. As in Paris Roubaix we will count down the dirt sectors from 7 to 1.
B) Las Huertas Canyon – Dirt Secteur 9 – @ Mile 29 – 2,238 feet of climbing – 7.3 miles long
This is a dirt road of 7.3 miles in length, climbing 2,238ft to reach a maximum altitude of just under 8,400 feet with gradients maxing out in the middle section of the climb at 14% (A minimum climbing gear of 39-28 or 34-25 is recommended). There are no intersections until you’ve reached the top and reached pavement, so have no fear of getting lost. At the top, take a left on NM Hwy 526/Sandia Crest Road towards the Sandia Ski Area (a right turn would take you to the top of Sandia Peak – another ~6 miles and several 1000 more feet of climbing, so don’t turn right).
Descend down towards the ski area and do a tiny bit more climbing before beginning the long 8 mile paved descent near Tree Spring Trail Head, all the way down to the bottom of the Crest Road and the intersection of NM 14/Turquoise Trail. This is one of the primary opportunities for a Feed (Opportunity 3 – Mile 44 – next feed 5 miles). Whether or not you stop, the Sandia Crest road that you were previously descending crosses NM 14 and turns into Frost Road. Continue on Frost road (if you’ve stopped at the gas station, this will be a right out of the parking lot and then a right on Frost road) heading East for 1.5 miles and take a right on Gutierrez Canyon/Ryder Road heading South. Ride this road for 5 miles until you come to a T intersection with N Zamora Road – essentially the Interstate 40 frontage road. This is the intersection where riders completing the intermediate route will turn RIGHT and riders completing the full route will turn LEFT. (INTERMEDIATE ROUTE CUTOFF – see Section J) below for further intermediate route directions)
The full route turns left for a short 0.6 mile jaunt before crossing the interstate by turning right over the overpass. Once over the overpass turn left onto NM 333 towards Zuzacks gas station (Feed Opportunity 4 – Mile 51 – next feed 29 miles and lots of dirt). Continue North east on NM 333 for 1.2 miles and turn right onto Sedillo Hill Road. This is dirt Secteur 6 and you will continue on Sedillo Hill Road for Secteurs 5 and 4 as well. This section can be confusing with many intersections and off-shoots but simply continue to follow Sedillo Hill Road through every intersection for 5 miles until you reach Hwy NM 217.
C) Sedillo Hill Road – Dirt Secteurs 8, 7, 6, and 5. – @~Mile 52.5 – ~400 feet of climbing – Cumulatively 5 miles long.
These four secteurs are grouped closely together, split by short sections of pavement and the crossing of hwy 217. The secteurs climb gently and the surfaces are fairly good. Again, follow Sedillo Hill road through each intersection until reaching NM 217, where you will cross the highway to hit the final fast and gradual downhill Sedillo dirt Secteur.
Turning Right at the end of the 4th and final Sedillo dirt Secteur back onto Route 66 for a couple hundred feet before turning right onto Barton Road/hwy 1.
D) Barton Road/Hwy 1 – Dirt Secteur 4 @~ Mile 57 – ~200 feet of climbing – 4 miles long
follow this rolling dirt secteur for ~ 4 miles. You’ll be treated to several steep rolling hills. Use caution on the descents. After 4 miles on Barton Road/hwy 1 turn right onto Juan Tomas Road which is paved for the first 3 miles and as it crosses over NM 217.
E) Juan Tomas – Dirt Secteur 3 – @~Mile 63 – ~300 feet of climbing – 2.75 miles long
Warning: this section has some rough, rutted, rocky, steep dirt switchback descending – use extreme caution! No harm in walking down the dirt switchbacks. The regret of walking will be less than the regret of a broken collarbone.
After turning right from 217 onto Juan Tomas you will ride 2-3miles on pavement before this road turns to dirt. This is a 2.75 mile secteur of dirt which climbs for the first half and descends for the second half. There is a T intersection after 0.5 miles of dirt in which you will take a right. The left option is ‘no outlet’ and has a sign indicating this fact. After the intersection continue climbing for just under a mile before you begin the gnarly and fast dirt descent. Watch that switchback and the big rocks. Once off the dirt, the descent continues on pavement – continue to use caution as there are several switchbacks which will still have loose dirt and gravel over pavement.
After ~2 miles of paved descending you will quickly approach the right hand turn onto the next dirt secteur for Cedro Campground – don’t miss it! If you reach the T intersection with NM 337 you’ve gone too far – turn back!
F) Cedro Campground – Dirt Secteur 2 – @~Mile 67 – ~400 feet of climbing – 2 miles out, 2 miles back (4 total)
Warning: this is an out-and-back dirt secteur that has 2 rock gardens and at least one rut/ditch that crosses the road laterally. Use caution especially on the descent. There is deeper loose gravel on this road and if you let the brakes off you can reach high speeds so please use caution. Again, no harm done in walking up or down the rock gardens.
After turning right from Juan Tomas onto this road, follow the dirt as it climbs past the Cedro Campground parking area and bathrooms. After a grinding climbing section past the campground you will reach a T intersection which has an old broken section of pavement, turn right and follow the road around a sweeping left hand turn where you will reach the first rock garden – the good line is on the right. Continue climbing to the second rock garden which doesn’t have a great line, but the preferred line starts on the right and crosses to the left. The top of the climb comes shortly after this rock garden where you will meet a gate. DO NOT CROSS THROUGH THIS GATE. The sign on the Gate Reads “American Tower Corporation”. Turn around at this point and descend back down keeping in mind the two rock gardens, what will now be a left hand turn at the broken pavement, and the lateral ditch crossing the road near the campground.
At the bottom of the dirt road turn right back onto the pavement of Juan Tomas for a brief 0.5 mile jaunt to the intersection Hwy NM 337. Turn right onto this Hwy and descend on pavement for just over 7 miles to the last dirt section which is a right hand turn onto Coyote Trailhead.
G) Coyote-Chamisoso – Dirt Secteur 1 – The last secteur! – @~Mile 75 – ~300 feet of climbing – 2 miles out, 2 miles back (4 total)
Warning: this is another out-and-back secteur and the dirt road is quite smooth but there’s one right hand corner on the descent after you’ve turned around and passed back through the gate (explained below) that comes up quite fast and some of the gravel is loose/deep.
Again, this is an out-and-back secteur. After turning off NM 337 climb up the steep gravel climb to reach the parking lot and restrooms for Chamisoso trails. Just past the parking lot you will reach a gate. PASS THROUGH THIS GATE to finish the full secteur of dirt which descends gently through a sweeping left hand turn. At the end of this dirt secteur you will reach another gate that says “NO TRESPASSING” And “HELIPAD”. DO NOT CROSS THE HELIPAD GATE. Turn around, ride back up the gentle dirt, pass through the first gate and descend back down to NM 337. Use caution on the descent, it is fast.
Turn right back onto NM 337 and descend on pavement for just over 1 mile past the ranger station to the intersection (stoplight) of NM 333. There is a Subway at this corner for cookies, sandwiches, and soda. This is Feed Opportunity 5 (Mile 80 – next feed 6 miles).
H) This intersection is where the Intermediate Route Rejoins the Full Route. Turn left heading West on NM 333 towards Albuquerque. You’re now on route 66 if you’re into that sort of thing. From Subway it is 6 miles back to town and you will cross first under then over Interstate 40.
At the end of NM 333 you will reach a stop light. Take a left onto Four Hills Dr and then an immediate right onto NM 556. As it begins to bear right, take a left onto Wenonah Ave SE. The gas station on your left is Feed 6. Feed Opportunity 6 (Mile 86 – next feed 6.5 miles) Gas station on left.
For this next bit, there are a lot of turns through residential streets. Please stop at stoplights and stop signs and follow traffic laws. If you get off course, we will not punish you, the essential thing at this point in the ride is simply to get back to the finish so if you deviate from course simply find your way back to Tiguex Park.
Continue on Wenonah SE and take the first left onto Dorado PL SE. Take the 3rdright onto Singing Arrow SE and then the third right onto Horseshoe Trail SE. Horseshoe Trail dumps out onto Juan Tabo at a funky little intersection, take a right onto Juan Tabo, proceed to the stoplight with Southern Blvd SE and take a left. Continue on Southern across the Eubank Stoplight. Southern turns right after some warehouses and shimmys for about 30 feet onto Moon heading North, but stay left onto Susan Ave SE. Susan hits a T intersection with Wyoming. Go left on Wyoming. Don’t go into the Military base, instead go right onto San Joaquin, which shimmys right briefly onto Virginia but stay left onto San Joaquin through this intersection. San Joaquin ends, go right onto Tennessee and then immediately left back onto Southern. Follow Southern for approximately 2 miles over Louisiana, San Pedro and San Mateo. These three intersections are very busy so use caution when crossing. After Crossing San Mateo, Southern turns into Idlewilde, continue on this street as it curves around and meets (Alejandro) Valverde street at a T intersection. Go left and then immediately right onto Ridgecrest. Follow Ridgecrest until it dumps onto Carlisle and take an immediate left on Garfield. Go 4 blocks and take a right on Bryn Mawr. At the corner of Silver and Bryn Mawr, you will come to Proud Supporter Michael Thomas coffee. Have a coffee.
Last Feed Opportunity – Michael Thomas Coffee! – (Feed #7 Mile 93.5 – 5 miles to the finish)
Turn left onto Silver and follow Silver for 7 blocks and turn right on Stanford (note: the Garmin file turns two blocks earlier, sorry about that, it’s slightly less convenient). Cross Central (Route 66) at the stoplight and take a left onto UNM Campus and Redondo Dr. NE. Follow Redondo as it curves right and then take a left on Martin Luther King, crossing over University blvd at the stoplight. Descend down Martin Luther King, under Interstate 25, over Broadway blvd where MLK becomes Marquette. Continue 8 blocks on Marquette and take a right on 8th street. Continue on 8th street for 7 blocks crossing Lomas in the process. Take a left on Mountain Road. Tiguex Park and the finish of the ride are approximately 7 blocks on your left.
I) Don’t forget to Sign in and record your time! Most importantly the time of your 3rd Team member to finish.
J) Intermediate route directions: Instead of going left on N Zamora Road as the full route does, go right. Follow this road for 1.5 miles until it reaches a T intersection with NM 333. Continue on NM 333 for just under a mile where you will reach a stoplight. Turn left at the stoplight, do not turn right onto NM14 Turquoise Trail or you will climb back towards the Sandia Crest Road. Once you turn left you are continuing on NM 333. After another half mile you will see a Subway on your left. This is where the Intermediate route rejoins the full route at the intersection of NM 333 and NM 337. Skip back to Section H for the remainder of navigation back to Tiguex Park and the finish.
Upon entering Bernalillo, turn right at the gas station (Feed Opportunity 1 – Mile 17 – next feed `5 miles) onto E Avenida Bernalillo road, which is ~ 7 miles after the NM 313 roundabout/4th Street intersection. After a short .3 mile jaunt and before the Interstate 25 underpass turn left onto S Hill Road towards the next RailRunner railroad station. At the corner, take a right heading East onto US 550/NM 165 and cross over Interstate 25. Use caution prior to the overpass when changing lanes as the bike lane becomes an on ramp for the Interstate 25 south bound traffic. Follow this highway, climbing in a general Easterly direction toward the town of Placitas. The Village Market is Feed Opportunity 2 (roughly mile 22 – last feed for the next 22 miles and tons of climbing) on the left in a shopping center about 2.5 miles from the Interstate 25 overpass.
Continue on Hwy 165 into the town of Placitas. ~7miles after the I25 overpass, veer right off the main Hwy 165 onto Paseo De San Antonio past the historic church for a little taste of quintessential New Mexican back road. This ‘Paseo’ will dump you back onto the main road Hwy 165 after 1 mile of a rolling climb, continue to the right on 165, which turns from heading East to heading gently to the South. After 1.5-2miles more you see a large green sign reading ‘Unimproved Roads’. You have reached the first dirt sector, commonly known as ATM (around the mountain) or Las Huertas Canyon. As in Paris Roubaix we will count down the dirt sectors from 7 to 1.
B) Las Huertas Canyon – Dirt Secteur 9 – @ Mile 29 – 2,238 feet of climbing – 7.3 miles long
This is a dirt road of 7.3 miles in length, climbing 2,238ft to reach a maximum altitude of just under 8,400 feet with gradients maxing out in the middle section of the climb at 14% (A minimum climbing gear of 39-28 or 34-25 is recommended). There are no intersections until you’ve reached the top and reached pavement, so have no fear of getting lost. At the top, take a left on NM Hwy 526/Sandia Crest Road towards the Sandia Ski Area (a right turn would take you to the top of Sandia Peak – another ~6 miles and several 1000 more feet of climbing, so don’t turn right).
Descend down towards the ski area and do a tiny bit more climbing before beginning the long 8 mile paved descent near Tree Spring Trail Head, all the way down to the bottom of the Crest Road and the intersection of NM 14/Turquoise Trail. This is one of the primary opportunities for a Feed (Opportunity 3 – Mile 44 – next feed 5 miles). Whether or not you stop, the Sandia Crest road that you were previously descending crosses NM 14 and turns into Frost Road. Continue on Frost road (if you’ve stopped at the gas station, this will be a right out of the parking lot and then a right on Frost road) heading East for 1.5 miles and take a right on Gutierrez Canyon/Ryder Road heading South. Ride this road for 5 miles until you come to a T intersection with N Zamora Road – essentially the Interstate 40 frontage road. This is the intersection where riders completing the intermediate route will turn RIGHT and riders completing the full route will turn LEFT. (INTERMEDIATE ROUTE CUTOFF – see Section J) below for further intermediate route directions)
The full route turns left for a short 0.6 mile jaunt before crossing the interstate by turning right over the overpass. Once over the overpass turn left onto NM 333 towards Zuzacks gas station (Feed Opportunity 4 – Mile 51 – next feed 29 miles and lots of dirt). Continue North east on NM 333 for 1.2 miles and turn right onto Sedillo Hill Road. This is dirt Secteur 6 and you will continue on Sedillo Hill Road for Secteurs 5 and 4 as well. This section can be confusing with many intersections and off-shoots but simply continue to follow Sedillo Hill Road through every intersection for 5 miles until you reach Hwy NM 217.
C) Sedillo Hill Road – Dirt Secteurs 8, 7, 6, and 5. – @~Mile 52.5 – ~400 feet of climbing – Cumulatively 5 miles long.
These four secteurs are grouped closely together, split by short sections of pavement and the crossing of hwy 217. The secteurs climb gently and the surfaces are fairly good. Again, follow Sedillo Hill road through each intersection until reaching NM 217, where you will cross the highway to hit the final fast and gradual downhill Sedillo dirt Secteur.
Turning Right at the end of the 4th and final Sedillo dirt Secteur back onto Route 66 for a couple hundred feet before turning right onto Barton Road/hwy 1.
D) Barton Road/Hwy 1 – Dirt Secteur 4 @~ Mile 57 – ~200 feet of climbing – 4 miles long
follow this rolling dirt secteur for ~ 4 miles. You’ll be treated to several steep rolling hills. Use caution on the descents. After 4 miles on Barton Road/hwy 1 turn right onto Juan Tomas Road which is paved for the first 3 miles and as it crosses over NM 217.
E) Juan Tomas – Dirt Secteur 3 – @~Mile 63 – ~300 feet of climbing – 2.75 miles long
Warning: this section has some rough, rutted, rocky, steep dirt switchback descending – use extreme caution! No harm in walking down the dirt switchbacks. The regret of walking will be less than the regret of a broken collarbone.
After turning right from 217 onto Juan Tomas you will ride 2-3miles on pavement before this road turns to dirt. This is a 2.75 mile secteur of dirt which climbs for the first half and descends for the second half. There is a T intersection after 0.5 miles of dirt in which you will take a right. The left option is ‘no outlet’ and has a sign indicating this fact. After the intersection continue climbing for just under a mile before you begin the gnarly and fast dirt descent. Watch that switchback and the big rocks. Once off the dirt, the descent continues on pavement – continue to use caution as there are several switchbacks which will still have loose dirt and gravel over pavement.
After ~2 miles of paved descending you will quickly approach the right hand turn onto the next dirt secteur for Cedro Campground – don’t miss it! If you reach the T intersection with NM 337 you’ve gone too far – turn back!
F) Cedro Campground – Dirt Secteur 2 – @~Mile 67 – ~400 feet of climbing – 2 miles out, 2 miles back (4 total)
Warning: this is an out-and-back dirt secteur that has 2 rock gardens and at least one rut/ditch that crosses the road laterally. Use caution especially on the descent. There is deeper loose gravel on this road and if you let the brakes off you can reach high speeds so please use caution. Again, no harm done in walking up or down the rock gardens.
After turning right from Juan Tomas onto this road, follow the dirt as it climbs past the Cedro Campground parking area and bathrooms. After a grinding climbing section past the campground you will reach a T intersection which has an old broken section of pavement, turn right and follow the road around a sweeping left hand turn where you will reach the first rock garden – the good line is on the right. Continue climbing to the second rock garden which doesn’t have a great line, but the preferred line starts on the right and crosses to the left. The top of the climb comes shortly after this rock garden where you will meet a gate. DO NOT CROSS THROUGH THIS GATE. The sign on the Gate Reads “American Tower Corporation”. Turn around at this point and descend back down keeping in mind the two rock gardens, what will now be a left hand turn at the broken pavement, and the lateral ditch crossing the road near the campground.
At the bottom of the dirt road turn right back onto the pavement of Juan Tomas for a brief 0.5 mile jaunt to the intersection Hwy NM 337. Turn right onto this Hwy and descend on pavement for just over 7 miles to the last dirt section which is a right hand turn onto Coyote Trailhead.
G) Coyote-Chamisoso – Dirt Secteur 1 – The last secteur! – @~Mile 75 – ~300 feet of climbing – 2 miles out, 2 miles back (4 total)
Warning: this is another out-and-back secteur and the dirt road is quite smooth but there’s one right hand corner on the descent after you’ve turned around and passed back through the gate (explained below) that comes up quite fast and some of the gravel is loose/deep.
Again, this is an out-and-back secteur. After turning off NM 337 climb up the steep gravel climb to reach the parking lot and restrooms for Chamisoso trails. Just past the parking lot you will reach a gate. PASS THROUGH THIS GATE to finish the full secteur of dirt which descends gently through a sweeping left hand turn. At the end of this dirt secteur you will reach another gate that says “NO TRESPASSING” And “HELIPAD”. DO NOT CROSS THE HELIPAD GATE. Turn around, ride back up the gentle dirt, pass through the first gate and descend back down to NM 337. Use caution on the descent, it is fast.
Turn right back onto NM 337 and descend on pavement for just over 1 mile past the ranger station to the intersection (stoplight) of NM 333. There is a Subway at this corner for cookies, sandwiches, and soda. This is Feed Opportunity 5 (Mile 80 – next feed 6 miles).
H) This intersection is where the Intermediate Route Rejoins the Full Route. Turn left heading West on NM 333 towards Albuquerque. You’re now on route 66 if you’re into that sort of thing. From Subway it is 6 miles back to town and you will cross first under then over Interstate 40.
At the end of NM 333 you will reach a stop light. Take a left onto Four Hills Dr and then an immediate right onto NM 556. As it begins to bear right, take a left onto Wenonah Ave SE. The gas station on your left is Feed 6. Feed Opportunity 6 (Mile 86 – next feed 6.5 miles) Gas station on left.
For this next bit, there are a lot of turns through residential streets. Please stop at stoplights and stop signs and follow traffic laws. If you get off course, we will not punish you, the essential thing at this point in the ride is simply to get back to the finish so if you deviate from course simply find your way back to Tiguex Park.
Continue on Wenonah SE and take the first left onto Dorado PL SE. Take the 3rdright onto Singing Arrow SE and then the third right onto Horseshoe Trail SE. Horseshoe Trail dumps out onto Juan Tabo at a funky little intersection, take a right onto Juan Tabo, proceed to the stoplight with Southern Blvd SE and take a left. Continue on Southern across the Eubank Stoplight. Southern turns right after some warehouses and shimmys for about 30 feet onto Moon heading North, but stay left onto Susan Ave SE. Susan hits a T intersection with Wyoming. Go left on Wyoming. Don’t go into the Military base, instead go right onto San Joaquin, which shimmys right briefly onto Virginia but stay left onto San Joaquin through this intersection. San Joaquin ends, go right onto Tennessee and then immediately left back onto Southern. Follow Southern for approximately 2 miles over Louisiana, San Pedro and San Mateo. These three intersections are very busy so use caution when crossing. After Crossing San Mateo, Southern turns into Idlewilde, continue on this street as it curves around and meets (Alejandro) Valverde street at a T intersection. Go left and then immediately right onto Ridgecrest. Follow Ridgecrest until it dumps onto Carlisle and take an immediate left on Garfield. Go 4 blocks and take a right on Bryn Mawr. At the corner of Silver and Bryn Mawr, you will come to Proud Supporter Michael Thomas coffee. Have a coffee.
Last Feed Opportunity – Michael Thomas Coffee! – (Feed #7 Mile 93.5 – 5 miles to the finish)
Turn left onto Silver and follow Silver for 7 blocks and turn right on Stanford (note: the Garmin file turns two blocks earlier, sorry about that, it’s slightly less convenient). Cross Central (Route 66) at the stoplight and take a left onto UNM Campus and Redondo Dr. NE. Follow Redondo as it curves right and then take a left on Martin Luther King, crossing over University blvd at the stoplight. Descend down Martin Luther King, under Interstate 25, over Broadway blvd where MLK becomes Marquette. Continue 8 blocks on Marquette and take a right on 8th street. Continue on 8th street for 7 blocks crossing Lomas in the process. Take a left on Mountain Road. Tiguex Park and the finish of the ride are approximately 7 blocks on your left.
I) Don’t forget to Sign in and record your time! Most importantly the time of your 3rd Team member to finish.
J) Intermediate route directions: Instead of going left on N Zamora Road as the full route does, go right. Follow this road for 1.5 miles until it reaches a T intersection with NM 333. Continue on NM 333 for just under a mile where you will reach a stoplight. Turn left at the stoplight, do not turn right onto NM14 Turquoise Trail or you will climb back towards the Sandia Crest Road. Once you turn left you are continuing on NM 333. After another half mile you will see a Subway on your left. This is where the Intermediate route rejoins the full route at the intersection of NM 333 and NM 337. Skip back to Section H for the remainder of navigation back to Tiguex Park and the finish.