Tag: New Mexico

It’s an unfortunate truth that many cycling event rides are run in the same fashion. You register, pay your fees, maybe get a t-shirt or jersey, and then food and beer after the ride is completed. This is, by no means, a complaint.

It takes a lot of effort, time, money, and the dedication of organizers and volunteers to make an event happen. That is what the fees you pay go toward. So, it’s very cool when an event adds an additional element to make it stand out from the cycling event crowd like the Santa Fe Gourmet Classic, which combines gourmet food with a long-distance bike ride.

What Is the Santa Fe Gourmet Classic?

The Santa Fe Gourmet Classic is an annual event ride held in October in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This year will be the 11th iteration of the ride which started in 2014. The ride is 62 miles, so not an overly short distance.

But the organizers supply a grand breakfast before the ride starts. After the ride starts, there are several rest stops along the way where cyclists can indulge in something beyond bananas and a peanut butter sandwich. In fact, if you are the type of cyclist whose aim is to just do the ride without much or any break, the organizers state this ride is not for you.

The organizers also provide an elegant gourmet lunch midway through the ride. At the end, cyclists are given a plate of fruit and artisanal cheeses.

The Ride and Route for the Santa Fe Gourmet Classic

As mentioned already, the ride is 62 miles (approximate distance) with an elevation gain of 1,823 feet. So, there is some climbing involved, although the climbs are not so long that you’ll be grinding hard to the top of them. These are more like rolling hills. The organizers state this is a very scenic ride.

Because of the combination of a cycling event with gourmet food, the organizers have a set schedule for the start of the event, rest stops, lunch, and the end of the ride.

• Registration and breakfast:8:30am to 9:00am
• Morning break:9:15am to 10:30am
• Refresher break:10:30am to 11:45am
• Lunch: 11:30am to 12:45pm
• Impromptu break:                       1:00pm to 1:45pm
• Can I make it home break:       2:00pm to 3:30pm
• Glad it’s over break:3:15pm to 5:00pm
• Final sweep for stragglers:5:30pm
• Notifying police and next of kin for missing riders: 6:00pm (just joking!)

The Food Cyclists Will Encounter During The Event

When you hear the word “gourmet” as it relates to food, you might think the food will be elegant and delicious but filling and too much for a bike ride of over 60 miles. You definitely don’t want to exercise or bike hard while in a food coma.

The truth is that all the stops feature very healthy and lite bites, enough to get you to the next stop. Think more like pastries and fruit dishes and you’ll be right on course. The food theme apparently changes every year, so this year the theme is French food.

Registration for The Santa Fe Gourmet classic

The Santa Fe Gourmet Classic takes place on October 4th, 2025. Registration is open now and occurs until 09/22. The cost is $190. The cost goes up to $200 if you register after that date or the day of the event.

Your fees cover rest stops, SAG wagon, full mechanical support, medical assistance, and the food! You can register online through Active.com or download a PDF and send it in. If you don’t have a bike with sufficient gearing or no bike at all, you can rent a bike for this ride.

Last Thoughts

The Santa Fe Gourmet Classic looks like a unique but fun event. The organizers, in fact, encourage cyclists to take their time and indulge in the great food while also doing a challenging ride. The registration fee seems high, but then again, a lot of things are covered by that price.

This event is only open to 100 riders which seems small when compared to other events. But that is probably due to the fact there are a lot of moving parts involved in this ride. How often do you get to do a great bike ride and also partake in delicious gourmet food? This is definitely an event you should add to your cycling bucket list, so register soon.