I wanted to see if anyone else here is racing this new stage race.
I’m from Texas and recently moved to New Mexico. I pre-rode the Glorietta and Los Alamos stages. I’ve got to say, I’m surprised how difficult I found these stages. Maybe Texas just brings a low level of tech, but I really struggled pre-riding these, even compared to the decent amount of riding I’ve done in NM, AZ, and UT over the last ~5 years. On paper I didn’t expect this race to be near as difficult as I think it will be after pre-riding.
1st stage Los Alamos - I rode most of this course today. In general its more technical than I’m used to, but not really a problem. However, the “forest road” climb up Guaje Canyon was a disaster for me today. I’ve never experienced a forest road climb that was so soft and loose. Some parts of it looked like hard pack, but you’d sink 3" into the sand and slide down hill on anything off camber. Another section was full of 1/2" diameter gravel on 18% grades with no worn bike path. Maybe if Los Alamos gets more rain in the coming months that climb will firm up, but if it doesn’t, I don’t know what I’ll do about tires. Dubnitols were not up to the task, but I also feel like I’d have to have something very aggressive to not end up walking a bunch of that climb.
3rd stage Glorietta. Again, overall not that difficult, but the climb up Cairn Me Up kicked my ass. Just enough sustained steep grade + technical features to overwhelm me. Pretty disappointed with how much I walked on that climb, but I do think I could get through it cleanly with a few more attempts. Doing it as the last climb in a 3 day stage race will be another story though.
I haven’t been out to Galisteo Basin yet, but its my understanding that should be by far the least technical stage,