Day 16- Santa Fe, NM to Las Vegas, NM- 75 miles

Just the stats: 75 miles, 13.5 MPH average, 5,189 feet climbed, 5,350 descent, cumulative 987 miles. No flats today, eight in total. Sunny, 59 to 73 degrees, afternoon thunder showers.

Still the best bog telling of today is http://sorebutt.blogspot.com/

Today's 75 mile ride from Santa Fe was just perfection. Roller coaster hills with substantial 7% to 9% grades sprinkled in for good measure. Early in the day we reached the highest point on the entire journey - Glorieta pass summit 7,570 feet.

The battle of Glorieta Pass spelled the end of Confederate hopes for victory in the west (I read it on a historical marker - I am not that smart).

We only had 5 miles of interstate riding. The rest of the ride was on the frontage road which parallels the interstate, but the grades are much steeper. Today we had the road almost totally to ourselves. While it is probabley an exaggeration, I don't think 20 cars passed me all day and I don't think one semi passed me today. The scenic hills are breathtakingly beautiful and really fun to ride. Fly down about a half mile then grind up about 3/4' of a mile. Late in the afternoon it was dodge the thunder storms. I was able to take refuge at a Subway - gas station around 12:30 with about 8 miles left to go.

After the rest stop it was about 55%, windy, (head winds of course, rainy and I was freezing with only a biking shirt on, no coat. So, I flew in the rest of the way trying to warm up - it worked.

Tomorrow is another desert crossing, 108 miles and probably around 90 degrees - should be fun. I prefer the hills to the long hauls. I have learned I am not a fast rider but I am a strong climber.

Here is my Garmin data: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/2853601