Winter
and early spring are challenging times for cyclists here in Taos. Most riders are skiing and the remaining hardcores plan their
day around freezing temperatures or 50mph winds. But for the
prepared there is good riding to be had. So get off the trainer,
bundle up, and go for a ride.
Road riding is your
best bet, especially after good snowfall around the holidays.
The trails shouldn't dry out until late winter or
early spring. This includes riding along the Rio Grande gorge like
West Rim Trail, The Rift Valley Trail, and Horse Thief Trail. Be
sure the trails are dry as the mud will create havoc with your
bike and leave nasty ruts in the terrain. Go to the MTB Rides page
for details on the above trails and contact us for current conditions.
Some riders will attack steeper terrain while it's still frozen
in the morning. The good stuff up high should be off limits until
late May or early June. If not, we're looking at closures due to
fire danger. So keep the precipitation coming! As I like to say, "Why
go for a bad mountain bike ride when you can have a good road ride?"
The roads around Taos offer some great rural terrain. Back roads
are scenic and more technical than highway out and backs. There
are good loops to be had of varying length and difficulty. The
challenging and scenic mountainous rides like Taos Ski Valley and
US Hill can be questionable this time of year. The Ski Valley because
of high skier traffic and both climbs if it's cold. Riders who
sweat on the climbs my find the descent unpleasant when your clothes
are moist. Plan your rides for temperature, duration, and safety
due to wet conditions accordingly. Good options are Highway 518
out to the base of US Hill, Highway 522 to Questa out and back,
and the shuttle to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge to ride the newly
paved West Rim Road.
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Contact us
to join our email list for weekly rides and shop specials.
RIDES
Sunday morning
rides are alternating between mountain and road until the trails
get snowed out. Call or contact us for the weekly ride. You can
also send us your email address and join the shop mailing list
for ride updates, shop specials, and all that is cycling in Taos.
Call or email
for current trail conditions, shop rides, or any ride
information.
Check the Taos
weather.
Check
the Taos Ski Valley weather.
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