ABQ Trail Review

In the spirit of an old Bike Snob (http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/) blog post (http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2007/08/bsnyc-2008-dream-bike-shootout.html), I bring you a review of the three Albuquerque trails I have ridden so far. Whether or not you read my blog, stop by his and give it a read. Here they are in the order I rode them:

1. The Foothills Trail
Located on the east side of Albuquerque and the west side of the Sandia Mountains, the foothill trails overlook the entire city. The primary benefit being an excellent view of the sunset, an added feeling of superiority (as you think about all the chumps not on the trails), or in my case, an excellent view of the looming storms that are about to dump water on trail-goers.

The trails are mostly buff, loose-ish, shallow, coarse sand with just enough tricky, intermittent rocks to keep riders on their toes or on the ground as I once discovered. The trail network is composed of a few double track trails running the length and width of the park. Single track weaves in and out of those trails, making double track avoidance pretty easy. The climbing is mostly gradual and fast; though, when it is steep is short lived and usually involves some big rocks. Perfect. The single track is fast and flowy with just enough sand to make riders nervous about railing every turn so easily. Forget about rain being an issue; the sand gains traction when the trail gets wet. The best section of trail lies at the north end of the park. Parallel to the famous Sandia Mtn. Tramway lies an 8.5+ mile climb to the top. Now I did not find out about this section of trial until days after riding here, but I did read about it. So I assume this section of trial once again gives the rider an opportunity to feel superior as he considers all the blokes riding the tram. Overall, going fast is the name of the game on this trail. Judging by the blood running down my arm and leg and the pain in my ribs, I would say the trails are fun.

Unfortunately, there are a few downsides to this trail. For instance, the hardware store with 15 mm wrenches between my house and the trail is non-existent despite what google maps may say. Be prepared for what Mark Twain calls “Jack-ass Rabbits” crossing the trail and foot traffic appearing right in front of you on blind corners. When these trails were laid out builders addressed tough questions. For example, “How can we layout a trail that doesn’t have any cacti on it, but close enough that cyclist are likely to get gloves full of needles while they are leaning into fast corners.,“ or “How can we make some of the sweet-looking trails in the adjacent National Wilderness area tease cyclists.” Some people complain about getting lost. As long as a rider remembers the mountains are on the east and the city the west, he will do fine.

Ride this trail if: You like going fast.

Don’t Ride this trail if: You don’t believe in tire sealant and are lame.

2. The Rio Grande Trails
Best described as the Lawrence River Trails of ABQ, these trail careen along the Rio (which is Spanish for the River). The trails get pretty sandy at times. Imagine really long, brutal, cyclo-cross sandpits. According to a local source, every ’cross race is in the sand out here; I’d better learn to deal with it. But when riding in the desert along a river what else can a cyclist expect. The trails flow pretty well and were easily manageable on my fixie cross bike. The trails are located along the central and northern sections of the Bosque trail and end at the Pueblo reservation boundary. Not much to say about these trails other than I saw two road runners. If you are visiting town and are an avid cyclist, don’t bother unless you are close and have a little time to kill.

Ride this trail if: You think cyclo-cross is fun.

Don’t Ride this trail if: You think a little bit of debris on at straight road is technical.

3. Cedro Peak Trails
If these trails were longer, I would call riding here epic. Though I spent over 4 hours here and did not manage to ride everything. The trails is either buff or completely littered with rocks of varying size. Parking just south of the ranger station on NM 337, the ride starts at over 6000 feet of elevation with several miles of climbing with only a few single track off-shoots. Don’t loose hope! Follow the fire road. It’s a long climb, but rocks along the way keep it interesting. Once near the top, double and single track starts branching off to the left and right. Not all trails are labeled, but all trails have something to make riding them worth while. After riding there on a 34x16, 26er single speed, I would recommend gears unless you like getting off your bike on awesome, technical climbs. Technical climbs are broken up by mostly technical descents and fast flowy sections. There are several banked corners making it easy to corner like a rabbit on crack driving a Porsche and descend like a greased squirrel on a luge. Don’t worry about boring flat sections and pointless recovery, those never last long. The views from up high are awesome, and there is no shortage of interesting creatures along the way. I saw too many lizards to count, crickets that burrow into the ground, and black squirrels.

Overall, these trails are a blast. You’ll either leave with a smile and better technical bike handling or a smile and a hand full of injuries. Downsides? There is a bit too much double track for my liking. Although, a lot of that double track is actually fun. There is no source of water once past the trailhead. Carry lots.

Ride this trail if: You’re a real mountain biker.

Don’t ride this trail if: You are a pansy.