Day 15: Santa Fe to Las Vegas NM

The temperature was in the low 40Fs when we started our 72-mile ride to Las Vegas, NEW MEXICO today.  Accordingly, I wore a sleeveless cycling base shirt under my jersey and a light windbreaker over it. I also wore knee warmers and toe warmers.  However, if past days in New Mexico were any indication, I would be alternately overheated and cold many times during the day no matter what I wore.  Still, it was somewhat gratifying to see Randy from Illinois and Alan from Minnesota also wearing chilly weather gear. The odd thing was, our guys from warmer weather climes such as Pierre from Texas and Barry from southern California wore arm warmers as their only cool weather gear. You'd think our clothing decisions would have been opposite.  

As in recent previous days, we weaved our way out of our host city before reaching a more direct route to our destination.  The group I've started with seems to keep the pace somewhat civilized for the first 5-10 miles and that suits me just fine.  One of my old basketball nicknames was "Crock Pot" -- presumably because it takes me a while to warm up before I really start cooking.  

Once out of town, we traveled on a relatively smooth, two-lane road with limited shoulder until Mile 15 when we entered Interstate Highway I-25N after a short hike-a-bike segment past a muddy, semi-barricaded construction zone.

Hike-a -bike

Once onto I-25N, we traveled on very smooth, 10-feet wide paved shoulders for 5 miles.  We exited toward Pecos at Mile 20, and that was the last segment of riding on interstate highways for the tour.  At the top of the exit, or at least nearby, was also the highest elevation point for the entire tour at 7570 feet above sea level.

Michael on the overpass after just exiting I-25N.  This point was, or was near, the highest point on tour.
We joked it was all downhill from here to Boston.

After exiting I-25N, we resumed our ride to Las Vegas along a remnant of Route 66 called the Santa Fe Trail. We soon found our way along the Glorieta Pass, a site of a significant battle during the American Civil War (OK, or War of Northern Aggression).  Unfortunately, I blew right by the plaque summarizing this battle and did not get a photograph.  

Light traffic, sunny skies, and a cool breeze made the riding easy along the Santa Fe Trail. 

Thanks for the photo, Randy!

Pecos National Historic Park on the Santa Fe Trail

Stuart, Joanne, and Randy at Pecos National Historic Park entrance.

View of snow-capped mountain peaks from the Santa Fe Trail

Another view of the road and scenery along the Santa Fe Trail.  

Geoffrey, Ross, and Alan making their way up a Santa Fe Trail hill.

 Around Mile 46, the smoothly rolling road with grades of 1-2% and an overall declination in elevation transitioned into undulations of 4-6% with a slight net increase in elevation.  With that change, the hills became more challenging -- the downhills more exhilarating.  If one could power down one hill and carry the speed along to the next hill, even better.  For me, the hills were just a bit too far apart to pull this off consistently.  No matter, all the more time to look at the beautiful scenery.

Tough rollers after Mile 46 --  Chuck calls them "Missouri Rollers" hinting this
is a preview of what lies ahead in his home state.

Eileen, one of the warm, friendly and supportive CrossRoads staff,
ensuring we have all the fluids and fuel we need for the final 10 miles to Las Vegas, NM.

Ross in Old Town Las Vegas Plaza

Old Town Las Vegas Plaza Hotel

Las Vegas, NM Train Station and Visitors Center

Day 15 Google Earth image and Elevation Profile
Santa Fe to Las Vegas, NM

Progress Map
(Black = Progress-to-date; Blue = planned route)

Tomorrow is a big mile desert day as we aim to ride 106 miles to Tucumcari.  Good guys wear white.