Tag: New Mexico

Much like Colorado, New Mexico is one of the most scenic and beautiful states in the western United States. With that in mind, I thought I would share a post of some riding I did around the roads of northern New Mexico.

The roads I covered are located close to the Carson National Forest, which is not far from Taos, New Mexico. I was staying with my aunt, who lived at the top of the mountain. I rode out from her adobe-style house a few times while I was visiting her, which involved riding down some gravel roads to reach the main road.

Gravel Roads on A Road Bike: Tires Probably Matter

Sorry if I offend any gravel riders reading this, but riding gravel on a road bike is not only bumpy but treacherous. Of course, I had thin road tires on my bike, so some knobby tires maybe would have lifted my joy.

That said, I rode a circuit out and back from my aunt’s house, which involved some good, hard climbs. Offhand, I don’t recall the exact grades on the ascents, but they were fairly challenging at around 8%.

If you keep riding toward the mountain, you’ll eventually come to the Taos Ski Valley. That said, the roads are in perfect condition, smooth gray asphalt for the most part. The best part was very little traffic, especially as you get closer to the top of the mountain.

Although I probably could have ridden to Taos, I chose not to. It is about an hour away, longer, obviously, by bike. But, ultimately, the reason I took a firm pass on riding to Taos was the heavy amount of traffic on a busy two-lane road. So, I turned around and rode around to the other side of the mountain, then rode back. And the scenery, as you can see by the pictures I’ve added, is just amazing.

Last Thoughts

I’ve only visited New Mexico a couple of times, and I’ve only had the chance to ride in the area discussed in this post once. However, I certainly would entertain the thought of returning there to explore other roads in the state.

If you live in the United States, it’s wonderful that the “Land of Enchantment,” as it is referred to in the state slogan and on license plates, is easily accessible. For me, anytime outside of an international trip or some other reason I don’t have to fly makes me happy, plus I can pack my bag, my bike, and be there in a few days. So, if you have a cross-country trip planned for the summer and you’re seeking a place with good roads and low traffic, definitely check out northern New Mexico.