The first NMES ride of the year is upon us this Saturday.  So far conditions are looking pretty decent, should be about 45 F at the start warming up to around 60.  A breeze out of the SW will be welcome for the folks doing the 100 miler, and there's a slight chance of precip starting around 3 PM to motivate you to gitt'r dun.  

As always, be extremely cautious, this route involves riding in traffic as well as on trails that include a highly diverse range of user.  Be courteous and do not over ride the available conditions and visibility.  

The courses this year are the same as last year.  For the 100 mile racers Dennis Chavez has volunteered to place a neutral water drop at the Random Garbage Truck Compound that you pass on your right between Southern and Norther Blvd.  My assessment is this puts it at about mile 71.  Your last chance to resupply before then would be one of the options at Ladera and Unser prior to hitting the dirt heading into the volcanoes.

For the 59 mile, due to construction on Rio Bravo between I-25 and Broadway you folks will follow the 100 miler course past Isleta Pavilion and onto Bobby Foster.  The bonus for the added miles though is that you won't cross to the west side of the river at Mantano and slog through those sand pits.  From Mantano to Alameda you'll be on the Bosque multi-use path.

All these details are on the course website.  

All the GPS files are linked on the course website.  

RIDE will start promptly at 8 AM with a civilized, careful neutral roll-out to the ditch bank.  Once you hit the dirt it's game on.  With the usual caveat to be nice to the locals who are typically out walking their dogs on the ditch bank enjoying a serene Saturday morning.

Sign out after the race, if you bail and don't return to the start email or text me (505)980.5388.  

Cheers,

Nate

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