Day 7: Gallup, NM to Albuquerque, NM

Distance: 137 miles
Average Speed: 19.5 mph
Winds: 30 mph, rear quartering to hard cross
Climbing: 4250 feet

I have to start by saying I’m preoccupied tonight. I was preoccupied today. I’m out here playing, and the person I love most in the world is going through a rough patch. Sorry to be a downer, but truly I have found over the last few months that the mental and physical are inextricably linked and that a 137 mile ride happens largely in the mind. That meant that today was bound to be tough, and it certainly was.

Rolling out of Gallup was pretty chilly. It was the first time I broke out the leggings and full fingered gloves on this ride. I knew I wasn’t going to be good company for anyone so I spent the first 105 miles or so off the front and by myself. Winds howled and were never neutral. Little stretches of 25 mph; longer stretches of 15 mph. We crossed the Continental Divide, so now we’re definitely flowing east.

At mile 105 we hit a stretch of I-40 construction where the shoulder was cut off and had to be SAG-ged across a four mile stretch. I’ve kind of developed this goal of not SAG-ging a single itch of this trip so this was a bit disappointing, but the SAG crew absolutely made the right call—way too dangerous. I’ve got a bit of riding to do around Albuquerque tomorrow anyway so I’ll make up the mileage, and it wasn’t an especially scenic four miles. Then it was a climb and a booming descent into Albuquerque, straight as piss and windy as hell. The cross winds were a bit scary on all the descents. It turns out it’s windy in the West. There were a couple of times today I had to be in the drops with my knees tight around the frame to keep Sexybike from getting blown out from under me. Christ, I’d never hear the end of it.

I’ve got a fairly busy rest day planned tomorrow. Bike shop, Old Town Albuquerque, laundry. I’ll be posting some of my insights accumulated over the western section of this ride, too, including the importance of tweezers and Carmex and something on the folks with whom I’m riding.

I want you all to be happy so do that, please.