Riding the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks: Las Cruces, New Mexico
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- Опубліковано 7 жов 2024
- "Before the Spanish started north on the Camino Real trail, the Organ, Robledo, Uvas, and Potrillo Mountains overlooked centuries of civilization in what would become the Mesilla Valley. Generations of Native Americans from the Jornada Culture and streams of Spanish settlers were watched over by the dramatic granite pinnacles of the Organ Mountains. Their fresh springs offered precious water, and their rugged yet productive land sheltered game of all types. These tall, jagged, and wild mountains, known also as Sierra de Los Organos, are today the backdrop to the community of Las Cruces, New Mexico, home to more than 100,000 people and part of New Mexico’s fastest growing region. It is a hub for new businesses and a magnet for retirees, participating in the so called “amenity migration” towards greater quality of life." - www.organmount...
"Northwest of Las Cruces lie the rugged canyons, arroyos, and distinct Chihuahuan desert grasslands of the Sierra de las Uvas Mountains and the striking views that one finds standing above Broad Canyon. In the Robledo Mountains pre-dinosaur footprints and a petrified forest lie buried in the strata, and twisting canyons in the Broad Canyon Country shelter petroglyphs from three separate Native American cultures. Across the grasslands, stage and wagon tracks trace the Butterfield Stage route and speak to the strong, diverse cultural influences in this enchanting land. To the south one discovers lava flows, unique cinder cone mountains, and a rugged landscape offering hundreds of thousands of acres of remote hunting and other primitive recreation opportunities. Rocks that were once a practice ground for the Apollo astronauts still shelter Gambels and Scaled quail, mountain lion, foxes, desert mule deer and javelina."
"Despite this abundance of wildlands, wildlife, and natural beauty, these lands are under constant threat from a wide range of modern-day activities. From urban sprawl to potential mining for rare earth minerals; from proposals for energy development to an explosion of off-road vehicles, these lands are under siege and need the protections that only a National Monument can provide. To create the level of support necessary to achieve this goal, a coalition of business, religious, conservation, and sportsmen’s groups was established in 2005 to work once again to achieve the protection for these areas that many have sought for more than forty years."
In this video, JOM of the Gravel Cyclist crew rode a route of his own design that started and ended west of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The route headed due north away from Interstate 10, meandering about the valley and heading towards Magdalena Peak. Extremely windy conditions made this a challenging ride for both rider and audio recording. Enjoy!
Links of Interest:
T-Lab X3 Titanium Adventure Bike (JOM's steed in this video) - wp.me/p4V4se-9F2
ENVE Composites Foundation AG25 Wheelset Preview (wheels used in this video, under review) - wp.me/p4V4se-bAA
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I lived in SE New Mexico for many years. Can never forget that wind and dust. But I love it out there. Thanks JOM!
Thanks Bob!
I used to live in Las Cruces. There is so many great rides there, especially on the mountain bikes. Hope you were able to eat at a few of the good spots while in town.
Thanks again. That looks pretty perfect! Love my local amazing steep climb to an old radar station in the middle of nowhere off a long section of gravel road. Up in around 39 minutes and down in about 8 :)
Looks like a fun descent! Thanks for video.
Cool video - you definitely weren't in FL!
Since I'm originally from Los Angeles, I love the desert! Love the wide-open expanses with the great views (of course we have great views here in Denver, too with a ton of gravel roads close-by). Yeah, the wind blows pretty good when on the desert, which can make for a sucky ride.
That sucks about having to crank uphill with only 32 in the back. My knees ache just thinking about it...
Thanks for sharing, sir
Some of this area reminded me of the northern part of my Aussie home state of South Australia. I enjoy the solitude and desolation of desert-like areas!
Also, you ought to post where you're heading. I live real close to Corralitos ranch and could have put you up for your stay and ridden with you.
Thats The Blue Mesa Climb a 90 mile round trip from Cruces out n back if you do pavement all the way. Las Cruces has 350 days of Sunshine and 333 days of Winderrrr lol
Thanks Ron!
I live in Las Cruces and ride a 40mm slick in the sand. Yeah it's like the Netherlands with the wind. Doesn't look like you use Strava anymore and I didn't see your route on your webpage, it would be nice to see your routes, or am I just missing them somewhere?
I upload to Strava maybe once a year? Not a fan to be honest. I will likely be adding some of my routes from the most-recent roadtrip to the website soon. They likely need some tweaks because as usual, my plan went awry along the way :)
Nearly fat bike territory out there with that sand. Good work!
Worst of the sandy spots came when I was riding north into a block headwind on 700c x 38mm. Whee!
@@GravelCyclist Go phat or go home! LOL All kidding aside, 38mm in sandy conditions with a headwind has got to be soul-sucking. :)
@@karlr6810 It was a smidge soul-sucking, err. Thankfully I have good skills riding sand :)
Fat Bike country. That coyote .:))
Haha. I was stoked to get so close before the Coyote learned of my presence.
Maybe one day you will ride on a downhil bike, what's the difference with gravel
Well, I was on a very fast paved descent...
What size tires are you running on your bike?
In this video, I was running 700c x 38mm. I generally prefer 700c x 43mm.
Those cows have it pretty hard to make a living off that desert
I spotted a few cows off in the distance, they at least looked healthy.
Jornada rd
Nice, Tony has "tribal knowledge" of the local roads.
@@GravelCyclist I lived there 20plus years. Got a lot of time in that desert
Riding in the wind kinda sucks the energy out you!
Until that tailwind, which was absolutely mega on that day.
Sounds like you had to make a effort .
A wee bit.
Typical New Mexico and very windy, worse than Tucson, AZ
Yikes!