Amanda Delcore
Great Divide
New Mexico in Review
At the time of this writing, I have finished the GDMBR. So I can recount my New Mexico experiences in their entirety.Listen, New Mexico was all the hard things about every other state rolled into one.
I think that I sort of dismissed New Mexico... as if I would breeze through the final state with all the power and prowess I'd acquired in the first five states. It was anything but a breeze. Also, the funny/not funny thing is that the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) seems to also assume you are a pro at the GDMBR by now, and their route descriptions in this state are somewhat unreliable. If you are planning to section-ride New Mexico, don't. Or at least train beforehand.
Here's the overview on why it was so hard. (And yes I'll give some positive notes at the end.)
Elevation
You don't really start to descend below 6,000' for good until after Silver City, which is a scant 120 miles from the border. We all think of Colorado as the high state, but the route in northern and middle NM was consistently between 7-10,000'. If you've done the whole GDMBR, this is not a problem, but if you haven't, make sure you have time to adjust to altitude.
Hills for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
To my knowledge, Colorado and Montana have a reputation for some of the longest and highest passes. New Mexico was equally as hard from a hills perspective.
The Overview:
The ACA maps tend to not have the detail in the elevation profile to show the shorter hills, which abound in NM. There are also many climbs that end with a short descent only to climb again within a mile or two. Most towns (like the rest of the GDMBR) are at lower elevation, and so you climb out of them. However, the road quality is (overall) not as good as the other states, which make these climbs more difficult.
Poor Road Quality
Let's just say that New Mexico doesn't appear to have as many funds available for road maintenance as Colorado. Immediately when you cross the border, the road becomes rutted and speckled with fist-sized loose rocks. While climbing out of Abiquiu, you'll curse the sand pits mixed with lava rock and loose boulders, and have to take a time out to laugh at the trail to blow off steam. It runs the gamut in New Mexico. You'll encounter deep sand, climbs and descents of loose, large rocks, sharp lava rock, and dirt roads that are impassible when wet. (In most cases, there is a paved alternative for these impassible sections; they are also scenic so have no FOMO if you want to take them.)
GOATHEADS
Goatheads are little thorny seeds that grow on plants near the side of the road that will puncture your tires. DO NOT PUSH YOUR BIKE INTO THE GRASS WHILE TAKING A BREAK. Better to lay it down in the road than risk puncturing your tires. Also, better to have tubeless tires with a sealant inside... I imagine this saved me from a few flats.
Lack of Water
I think it totally depends on the time of year you tackle NM. They do have a summer monsoon season anywhere from roughly from June-early September. Arizona and New Mexico receive up to half of their annual precipitation during the monsoon season. So I'd imagine there was plenty of water then. When I biked it in late September/early October, everything was dry like toast. It became necessary to carry water between areas of civilization, because you could not rely on reservoirs, creeks, or cattle water tanks. After Abiquiu, I started to carry 6 liters as I left a town. It was a pain in the ass, but better than the alternative. The ACA map will often indicate water windmills, reservoirs, and cattle tanks. However, it's not safe to rely on these landmarks for water due to weather conditions and activities of ranchers. Sometimes the reservoir would be dry, but another, unmentioned reservoir would have some mucky water. Other times I would find an indicated cattle tank dry, but another one farther down the road filled with good water. The windmills were also not always there.
Ways to find water in despite the ACA map:
Ask hunters for water - they often carry extra and often happy to help. It helps if it's hunting season ;)
Look at where the cows are gathered - chances are that they are gathered near a water source, which is an option for you if you have a good water filter
Look for windmills - many of them don't work anymore, but are now connected to a solar pump that you may not be able to see from the road
Use your topo map - USGS topo maps typically show where there are springs, tanks, and reservoirs. The map will show you water sources that ACA doesn't indicate.
Be wary of motorist information - People and cars and on motorcycles just don't have the same concept for mileage. They may indicate that a lake is nearby, but they don't realize that 30 miles is about half a day of riding for you... essentially making a water source unattainable.
Small Towns
This is part of the charm of New Mexico, but it also means that re-supply options for food and gear are limited. If you need serious work on your bike, you're not going to find a shop on the route that can help you until Silver City... which is basically the end. I knew a guy who got so many goathead flats just out of Grants that he hitched a ride to Albuquerque to switch over to tubeless and took a cab back to the GDMBR. The general store in Abiquiu is pretty good, but other "grocery stores" are very limited. So ship yourself snacks if you're picky about what you eat.
THE UPSIDE OF NEW MEXICO
It's not all bad news here. First, most of the route is in forests of juniper and pinion or even more impressive forests, like in the Gila Wilderness. So it's not all hot and dry and sunny. Second, it's remote. There aren't a whole lot of people or tourists; you really get some QT with nature. Also, if you didn't get your fill of wilderness camping in the first part of the route, you'll get it in New Mexico. No more paying too much money for lackluster campsites. Most of the places you'll sleep are backcountry sites or they are inexpensive campsites. Coyotes and elk will provide a serenade as you fall asleep out here, which was something I didn't hear in other states.
PIE TOWN is in New Mexico, and is absolutely worth the stop. There are four places that will sell you pie here, and they are open on alternate days to ensure that you get your fill of pie in Pie Town. The Toaster House is also a real gem. It's a house that's unoccupied but left for thru-hikers and cyclists. It's located right on the GDMBR route, and is an excellent choice of free lodging. Lastly, there's just something about the wilderness out here that feels very vast and raw. I can't explain it, I can only tell you to experience it yourself.
- IMAGES OF THE ROAD -
Amanda Delcore
Gear List
- My Ride -
- My Blackburn Gear -
- EQUIPMENT LIST -
- • Giro LA DND glove - size medium
- • Giro Monica glove - size medium
- • Giro – size 38
- • 20 deg sleeping bag
- • Head mosquito net
- • GPS Spot Tracker
- • Omaker Speaker
- • Dog Pepper Spray
- • Blackburn Central 700 Front Light
- • Headlamp
- • Whisperlite International
- • Fuel Canister (no fuel inside)
- • GSI stove set
- • GSI camp coffee pour-over thingy
- • Trusty compass
- • Garmin ETREX20
- • Anker 2nd Gen 9600MAH external battery pack
- • KLYMIT x-frame sleeping pad (desert camo print!)
- • Camp cup
- • Llwh token
- • First aid kit
- • Emergency blanket
- • Platypus water system
- • Camp towel
- • Bic razor
- • Face sunscreen
- • Chapstick
- • Hair product
- • Sunscreen
- • All-Purpose soap
- • Drbronners
- • Camp knife
- • Dznuts
- • Roll up REI backpack
- CLOTHING -
- • Raincoat
- • 2x tank tops
- • Columbia SPF 40 long sleeve
- • Camp skirt
- • Bikini top
- • 2x bra
- • Bandana
- • 3x undies
- • Warm gloves
- • Warm base leggings
- • Rohancycling arm warmers
- GIRO CYCLING GEAR -
- • Wool jersey and vest
- • T-shirt
- • Warm top base layer
- • 2x socks (#inkin toe socks/Giro wool)
- • Cycling short (#ppt thin chamoux/ Giro Undershort)
- • Giro Overshort
- BIKE GEAR -
- • Bike tube
- • Chain break that someone almost broke
- • Stans
- • Rubber bands
- • Electrical and duct tape (yes I wrapper around my handlebars)
- • Tire lever (but I won't use them promise @TOPHERVALENTI )
- • Patch kit
- • 3x spokes
- • Tubeless patch kit
- • Master link for MSRAMMTB 1 X 11
- • Chain lube
- • Super glue
- • Brake pads
- • Zip ties
- • Spoke wrench
- • Extra valve/core
- • Nuts
- • Derailleur cable
- • Blackburn CENTRAL 100/20 COMBO
- • Blackburn WAYSIDE CO2/OUTPOST HV
- • Blackburn Cargo Cage
- • Blackburn Outpost Seat Pack
- • Blackburn Outpost Handlebar Roll
- • Blackburn WAYSIDE CO2/OUTPOST HV pump
- • Blackburn Multitool- Toolmanator 12
- • Blackburn Outpost Frame Bag
- BIKE SPECS -
- • Frame- Niner SIR 9 size small CHROMO, 142MM X 12MM THRU AXLE
- • Fork-NINER SIR 9RIGID, 853 (9MM QR) OR CARBON RDO (15MM AXLE)
- • Front Wheel-SRAM ROAM 50 29
- • Rear wheel-SRAM ROAM 50 29
- • Front tire-WTB WOLVERINE 29
- • Rear tire-WTB WOLVERINE 29
- • Inner tubes-WTB INNERTUBE PRESTA 29
- • Sealant-WTB TCS SEALANT 500mL
- • Crank set-SRAM XX1 175MM
- • Chainwheels-SRAM XX1 CNC-X-SYNC DRICT MOUNT, SEVERAL SIZES
- • Bottom Bracket-SRAM GPX 73MM
- • Chain-SRAM PC-XX1
- • Rear derailleur-SRAM XX1 X-HORIZON
- • Rear der shifter-SRAM XX1 TRIGGER SHIFTER
- • Cassette-SRAM XG-1199 10-42T
- • Headset- Niner
- • Star Nut-Niner
- • Headset Cap-Niner
- • Headset Spacers-Niner
- • Stem-TRUVATIV STYLO T40 STEM SEVERAL SIZES
- • Handlebars- TRUVATIV STYLO T40 RISER 700MM WIDE, 15MM RISE
- • Tape/Grips- WTB TECH TRAIL CLAMP ON
- • Saddle (Women's)-WTB DEVA SLT
- • Seat Post-TRUVATIV STYLO T40 SEATPOST 27.2MM DIA, 400MM LENGTH
- • Seat Post Clamp/Binder-Niner
- • Front Brake-SRAM GUIDE RSC POST MOUNT, 160MM ROTOR, >1,000MM HOSE
- • Rear Brake-SRAM GUIDE RSC POST MOUNT, 160MM ROTOR, >1,800MM HOSE
- • Brake Levers-SRAM GUIDE RSC
- • Brake Housing/CBL-SRAM
Amanda Delcore
- FROM: Philadelphia, PA
- DOB: 1999-11-30
- OCCUPATION: Adventurer
- Genesis moment for the trip I was visiting the Radavist website and I saw the Blackburn #outthere banner ad. Congratulations… the marketing worked. I was probably at work, day-dreaming, like most outdoor enthusiasts. I had always wanted to hike the Continental Divide in Colorado… Prior to learning about the Blackburn Ranger program, I even blocked out a month in my work calendar to hike the CDT in a sort of act of defiance. Seeing the Blackburn Ranger program got me thinking… why not bike it? I did some research, I admittedly didn’t contemplate the consequences, and started scheming furiously about how to make a killer application video.
- Have I traveled by bike in the past? Yes I bike toured parts of Maine and New Hampshire solo. I biked from Portland, Maine to the White Mountains of New Hampshire; I camped, did day-trip summits in the morning and rode to the next spot in the afternoon. I also bike toured the Blue Ridge Parkway in early spring.
- Goal for the route? I’m not one much for goals. I shy away from formally setting goals, because I find that reward is fleeting and there’s not much else to do but set a new goal. And in units of time, the route to achieving a goal is almost the entirety of the experience. For me, the real reward is the process of following an interest or a curiosity. I am interested in inspiring other females to bikepack; to this end I’m running a Women’s Bikepacking Series in my hometown of Philadelphia. I am curious to see if I can replicate this series in some way during the tour. I am also keen to ride with friends and make new connections in the cycling community; as a start, there are at least three different people riding with me during different parts of the trip.
- Hope to get out of the journey? A deeper understanding of myself and my capabilities. I hope to learn how to endure the extremes of nature and everything in between. I think much of our lives are setup to spend most of the day indoors, and we miss out on how pleasant and how ugly nature can be. On this trip there will be mornings that are cool, clear, and sunny, but there will also be afternoons of thunderstorms or intense heat. I hope to gain an appreciation for the full spectrum of nature and the patience to roll with it.
- What’s in my bag? I’m not there yet in my packing…. : / I think they are going to be my lumbar pack, a thumb piano or another tiny musical instrument, a bandana, and ??? I’ll try to figure this part out in the next week and a half.
