Cycling "High"

LEFT: Ski slopes atop Santa Fe Mountain (NM)

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Once we got to Albuquerque, I started to get some cycling in. Now, cycling at altitude is a whole lot different than cycling at sea level. The first day out I did a modest 6 mile hill...it took me about 4 hours (I think), and I had to nap immediately afterward. Plus I had a massive nosebleed.

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The next day, as I'm cycling through the town, I pull up to a light in the right hand lane. A pickup truck pulls up behind me. Now, in NY, in this same situation, he would have either (a) laid on the horn and yelled expletives at me to move, or (b) just run me over, then laid on the horn and yelled expletives at me.

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This guy waits patiently. As I see him, I move my bike a bit more towards the center of the road, so he can make his right hand turn around me. He pulls up, rolls down his window and says "Sir, I want to thank you very much for taking the time to move your bike over to let me pass. I really appreciate it". Needless to say, I almost dropped over from the shock of it all. What a town!

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As we left Abuquerque, we spent a night in Santa Fe, and I rode Santa Fe mountain (15 miles uphill) on monday morning. About 2/3 of the way up I encountered "first snow", and by the time I got to the top, the temp had dropped probably 20 degrees, and the ski slopes were still deep in snow. But, on a positive note, I did get up the mountain, even with my extra 40 lbs and sea level lungs. From the top you could see all the way to Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, probably 80 miles away...Well worth the pain of the climb.

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Later today we head up to Durango to rendezvous with the crew and get ready for the Iron Horse classic bike ride. THAT should be a doozy!

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"Pickup truck drivers are my new best friends" Lumpy out