Calendar  Group Rides   Links, Advocacy, & Contact		MTB/CX Trails   Road Routes   Flat Prevention   Bike-Racers Email List   Advertise here (reasonable rates)

Around the Mountain

Direct link to map on Google Maps Description: Pretty much the coolest ride around. Not everyone agrees. This goes through Placitas and up to Sandia Ski Area the back way - on dirt, then down the crest road and through Tijeras Canyon. For the last few years a variation of this route has been used for a gravel grinder ride in the fall organized by the Nero Veloce team.     Ride N on the North Diversion Channel bike path to Alameda. At Alameda turn left (W) on the bikepath on the S side of Alameda, this narrows to a wideish sidewalk for a little while. Cross Alameda Park Dr. and continue W, over the bridge and down the hill on the new bikepath to 2nd. Go right (N) to 4th, go right (E). Continue to the roundabout, 4th becomes Roy.   At the roundabout get on Highway 313. Ride N on 313 to Bernalillo. Turn right onto 550 and ride E over I-25. This road becomes Highway 165. Follow 165 E through Placitas as it curves around to the S. Just past the 9 mile marker on 165, the pavement ends and the fun begins. Depending on the condition of the road, the fun may be hard to appreciate... From the end of the pavement it is 7.28 miles and 2200 ft of climbing to the top where the pavement starts again. This is a pretty hard climb, with the steepest section from mile 3-4.2. I suggest having a gear smaller than you use to climb the Crest road. At the top 165 t-bones into the Crest road just above the Ski Areaa. Turn left and ride down to the North 14. Turn right on N-14 and ride S to Highway 333 (old 66) Turn right onto 333 and ride W through Tijeras Canyon. Take your favorite way back into town. (This is one of Steve Matthias's routes) Last update 5-20-16