Enchanted Circle Century Bike Tour - Cycle

Did the math on my Two 30oz bottles the night before, and realized they total 3.75 lbs, or as I thought of it, "Almost 4 Pounds!".
So I left them in the Fridge, and planned to hit every Aid Station, but carry minimal anything.
Drank cup at Aid Stations 1 and 2, at Questa, and Arroyo Hondo, but completely missed Aid Station in Taos- which I was told later (by someone who did not do the race) that it was at Taos Cyclery, but I LOOKED RIGHT AT Taos Cyclery, and saw no Aid Station!
So IDK where it was and MUST find out for next time.
Hit a Gel in early part of Taos Canyon- because I felt I HAD to. Then LUCKILY saw someone walking from one building to another in the Canyon at a Camping Park, and jstu asked them if they sold water! They did, and bought 2 small bottles! So made it through to top of Pass there, at 9100ft.

When I stopped for water at the RV Camp I was still in 4th, having passed another person at the Aid Station 2, and had one person go by us both while we were stopped at that Aid Station along the Road at Arroyo Hondo- where I was putting my Arm Warmers in a bad and giving them to the Aid Station. But while I was getting that water, I saw the first groups of the very fastest riders who had started at 8am going by, so was probably 20th, by the time I got going again.
NO one I talked to at the Aid Station at the top of 9100ft Palo Felchado, had seen/gone to the Aid Station in Taos. So SOMETHING either went wrong and there wasn't one, or it was SO badly marked a good 15 of us didn't see it at all!

This ride is SO hard! The combo of the 15-17 (I heard someone say 19) mile climb from Taos to 9100ft Palo Flechado, followed by the ride through the valley and the 12 mile climb to 9820ft Bobcat Pass just a couple miles from the finish, has LOTS of people, all of whom were riding faster than me through the Taos Canyon, just toasted, by Eagle Nest, laying on the ground waiting for a ride!

I pushed on, but a slow leak in front tire (new tire, new tube!) made it REALLY difficult, and I stopped a couple times, then in the last Mile to Bobcat Pass, I got a ride to the near top before the guy told me he had a pump and I pumped up the tire and descended into Red River.
I LOVE this ride, the weather when clear is spectacular, and it's jsut the best/hardest Event you can do... but I MUST be in much better shape! Next Year!

MUST be in better shape next year.
If I'm able to Ride Bike at All, then I must put in the mileage and time to do this ride correct!


Multiple CAT 1 And 2, 12-15 miles climbs to over 9,000ft! The last one at mile 97 of the 100mile loop.

Come Test Yourself, your riding acumen, and ability to 'hold back' long enough to actually finish this ride without just lying on the ground begging for a ride (as I saw plenty of people who went faster than me on the early climbs, doing, 18 miles from the finish in Eagle Nest!).
You've been warned!
Smile.