Paceline riding across New Mexico

Our last climb

On top at 8,250'; grades reached 12%

The extinct volcano, Sierra Grande

After our last climb, 22 miles, in the New Mexico mountains, up to 8,250' and a nice rapid decent, I teamed up with Matt R. from Wisconsin and Archie S. (newly joined the group in Taos) for some paceline riding to lunch at the 52 mile point.

Lunch today consisted of turkey, pepperjack cheese, tomato, lettuce and mustard on a fresh kaiser roll, fresh strawberries, an orange, five bean salad, a 6 oz can of tomato juice, tortilla chips, a can of minute maid berry juice, and a bottle of water. We ate at a rest stop along a state park that had an extinct volcano off in the distance, the Sierra Grande.

After lunch we Matt, Archie, and me joined the Colorado trio, Jack (from Iowa) and Jim (the brother of Greg, here to ride with us one day) in an 8 man peloton for the 40 miles to our hotel. The Colorado trio was the triple engine as they took turns pullings the five of us (freight cars!) along. This sure made the ride easier, especially as the cross winds picked up after lunch. It was also a great opportunity to really ride in a longer paceline, without having to do any pulls.

Once we got into Clayton, a small town that relies on the cattle industry for the basis of its economy, I got a nice massage of my neck and shoulders. My legs are no longer sore after the riding; the paceline riding requires a lot of focus on the peole in front of you. You have to maintain your cadence and intensity based o nthe riders immediately in front of you. As we do more of this, the tension in my upper body should minimize.

Today we covered 92 miles; over 2,100 kcals burned. 3,800' of climbing.

No flat tires today for the group.