Commuting - Albuquerque Bike To Work Week

I'm very happy that the Duke City is promoting Bike 2 Work Week but I have just one gripe. During one of the days they will be having stations set up around the city so you can stop by for breakfast or lunch but none of the stations are along my commute route.

Perhaps next year I can snag a free meal.

It's so nice to finally find someone else in Albuquerque! The same holds true for me and I don't think that I want to go out of my way to pick up free stuff. I can feed myself elsewhere. What's your route? I wonder if we pass each other...

It's so nice to finally find someone else in Albuquerque! The same holds true for me and I don't think that I want to go out of my way to pick up free stuff. I can feed myself elsewhere. What's your route? I wonder if we pass each other...


I take the bike trail from UNM heading up towards Montgomery/Montano. And yes, it is good to see another Duke City cyclist!

WOOT! another albuquerque commuter checking in! I ride in via bike trails and lanes from Juan Tabo/Copper down to the diversion channel bike trial, then head south from the split just north of commanche south towards UNM, then up onto the base. 20 mile route that goes way out of my way so I can get more miles. There is a guy on the "how was the daily commute" thread that goes by whiterabbit who's from here too.

How far does everyone ride? what kinda bikes you riding?

I'm riding a 1996 trek 2200 road bike, updated with a threadless front carbon fork, and new mavic rims. Most noticable in the winter time by my helmet mounted strobing white LED (known to cause cursing, and temporary blindness)

Anyone doing the Albuquerque Century?

Anyone here ever eat at El Brunos in Cuba? Humminna hummmina..... best mexican food in New Mexico.

Sorry...I got off track there.

I feel like we should start an Albuquerque Commuters sticky thread! We're so few and far between but it brings the biggest smile to my sweat-soaked face when I see one (or pass one :D). I live near UNM and ride up to Montgomery/Wyoming area. Since I ride at 4:30 a.m., I'm afforded with the ease of taking Lomas east then Wyoming north, a no-holds-barred approach that is quick and easy.

I ride a 2005 Motobecane Vent Noir road bike, upgraded with aero bars, aero wheel, and all that good stuff. I'll look out for you both when I ride on your route for occasional trips to REI. Good luck, stay safe, and represent!

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Reza Fakhrai

Anyone here ever eat at El Brunos in Cuba? Humminna hummmina..... best mexican food in New Mexico.

Sorry...I got off track there.


OH YEA! I've been there before, pretty dang good, though there is a lot of good mexican food in Albuquerque too. And not really any other good reason to go to Cuba than El Brunos from what I saw driving through (on my way from Albuquerque to Durango)

I think we should try and get this sticked, that'ld be cool. Or we could do it the old fashioned way and just post to it multiple times a day! :-)

I just checked it out...and I'M GONNA BE OUT OF TOWN! on "bike to work day" that sucks, I ride right past the food station at the library! i'ld totally stop in for breakfast! Course...I'ld have to be late to work, but it'ld be worth it! Oh well, I am going to be in Las Vegas that day so...it'll be worth it (NV too...not NM!) :-)

Yeah, I have the bike to work day off of work so I probably won't be riding to work. Now, joy riding to keep drivers educated is entirely possible. El Brunos is really great food, but it's so hard to say that it's the best because there are some fantastic places in Albuquerque. Anyway, about making this post sticky...

Anyone interested in group rides?

Anyone interested in group rides?

Group rides? YUP! I ride with the Lobo group every Saturday, it's an open ride that meets at 9:00 at the lobo statue at UNM. Very nice group. They normally do 50 miles down to Las Lunas and back. Awsome fun!

I take the bike trail from UNM heading up towards Montgomery/Montano. And yes, it is good to see another Duke City cyclist!

Any good indie coffee shops on the edge of UNM campus? I'm going to be there for a workshop, and I'll need fuel.

Sounds like you guys just need to arrange for another breakfast event along your own route!

Nice to know there's good weather for it somewhere in the country! :( :)

Any good indie coffee shops on the edge of UNM campus? I'm going to be there for a workshop, and I'll need fuel.

I like Irysh Mac's, just south of Central on Yale.

I commute by bike four days a week, from 4th and Montano to Osuna and Jefferson. I'm looking to buy a house soon and a big requirnment is that it still be a reasonable bike commute. There are a few other people that bike to work regularly, maybe 3-4 of us total.

Woo Hoo. Glad to see some commuters in Abq on the board. I commute from Juan Tabo and Comanche to the University everyday. I usually use surface streets with bike lanes because it is faster than the bike path. I just set a new personal best for my average speed this morning. I really concentrated on hammering the uphills and I coasted or soft peddled the downhills. I use my "junker" bike since I end up locking it up at the bike racks on campus.

Anyway.... I was shocked to see Albuquerque in the title of a post. Thought I would shout out to all my fellow commuters.

Is anyone doing the Santa Fe Century this weekend?

I like Irysh Mac's, just south of Central on Yale.

Sounds like it might be a winner. :)

Any good indie coffee shops on the edge of UNM campus? I'm going to be there for a workshop, and I'll need fuel.

My vote is on Winning Coffee Company on Harvard just south of Central. They roast their own beans and have a full kitchen. If you bring your own mug (any kind), you can get it filled with coffee for $0.80.

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Reza Fakhrai

I commute by bike four days a week, from 4th and Montano to Osuna and Jefferson. I'm looking to buy a house soon and a big requirnment is that it still be a reasonable bike commute. There are a few other people that bike to work regularly, maybe 3-4 of us total.

Oh, so you're one of us who rides up in the morning then gets the downhill in the afternoon. It's a good way to go about it. Where's the new house going to be in relation to Osuna/Jefferson?

I commute to work regularly. I haven't filled my car up with gas for 2-1/2 months now and I'm investing in a trailer so I can run large errands via bike. Everyone else regular?

One pill makes you larger, one pill makes you small.....


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Reza Fakhrai

My vote is on Winning Coffee Company on Harvard just south of Central. They roast their own beans and have a full kitchen. If you bring your own mug (any kind), you can get it filled with coffee for $0.80.


Harvard...Yale...how to choose? ;)

Harvard...Yale...how to choose? ;)

That depends on what kind of coffee drinker you are. No offense to Irysh Macs but they don't roast their own coffee and it always comes out a little weaker than I would like. Plus, Harvard is just a street east of Yale so you could reasonably check them both out in a day. Good luck!

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Reza Fakhrai

For many years, I never participated in these breakfasts in my town, just because they were out of my way. Last year, however, I rode the 3/4 mile out of the way, and stopped at a Whole Foods, where they had a station set up. The breakfast was well worth the extra ride. Met some friendly people, and barely made it to work on time!

Second vote for Winnings coffee, don't drink coffee, but it's a very chill place, I've never been to Irish Macs, but heard they have good coffee. Saturday in the early afternoon you can catch a friendly group of riders coming back from the Lobo Ride hanging out at the Winnings (Isn't it RJ Winnings?) coffee shop, we usually go there for coffee/beverages and lunch for some, usually get there between 12:30 and 1:00.

I'm a 99% rider. A tank of gas usually lasts me about 2 and a half or 3 months. Though we still do almost all weekend errends in my wifes car. I started commuting daily last year in March, but had commuted on and off for years. When I first moved to Albuquerque in 1999 I didn't own a car and I rode from Commanche and San Mateo up to Eubank and I-40 on a 30 pound mountain bike every day for about 6 months!

Oh, so you're one of us who rides up in the morning then gets the downhill in the afternoon. It's a good way to go about it. Where's the new house going to be in relation to Osuna/Jefferson?
Reza Fakhrai

Yup, up Osuna in the morning, does wonders for waking me up. I don't know where the house is going to be yet, we've had a horrible time finding one. As soon as we put an offer on one someone else puts up a cash offer or some other such thing. :( We're looking in the North Valley or Uptown.

Plus, Harvard is just a street east of Yale so you could reasonably check them both out in a day.

I plan to. :)

Hey whats up 505. Another albuquerque commuter checking in. I will commute from comanche and carlisle to the airforce base. This will actually be the start of my commuting this week, because of Bike issues. I am buying a Gary Fisher thurs, and that will be my first day riding to work. I will take carlisle to candalaria, then up candalaria to wyoming. Then I will take wyoming all the way into the base.

It would be nice to maybe form some kind of get together to share ideas on commutes and ect.

I'll check in too. I ride from Juan Tabo and Menual to just inside the Truman gate every day (at least I try for every day, I ussually make at least 3 or 4 a week this time of year). Going in at Eubank and across base, the mileage comes out to 9 miles each way, not too bad. I also try to make my evening and weekend errand and small grocery runs on the bike as much as possible, in an effort to minimize the miles I put on (and gas I put in) my full-size pickup.

I ride a Raleigh Rush Hour single-speed on the free-wheel side. I'm the guy with the blue and gray messenger bag with the 1lesscar patch.

As for this Friday, I'm lucky... I can take my alternate route down Indian School and go right past a food stop. On the other hand, I don't go near any breakfast places on my way to work, so I end bring b-fast with me.

I will take carlisle to candalaria, then up candalaria to wyoming. Then I will take wyoming all the way into the base.

Kudos on starting your new commute - you'll love it. I'd suggest finding a route that stays off the arterials more. Claremont is a good option for cutting across the city at the Candelaria level, although the route gets pretty squirelly after Wyoming as it jumps around streets. Riding up Wyoming at rush hour could be sort of rough, but I'm not sure what you could do to avoid it. Maybe take Moon to Southern, and then across to Wyoming, but that takes you a block further east than you need to go. Another good option would be to take Washington down to the Truman gate (involves some jogging onto Val Verde - I think - and then Ridgecrest). Then ride across base to your destination on Wyoming. With the housing area closed, this means you need to head out of your way on Hardin (toward the ABL), but you avoid all the crazy traffic.

On the other hand, I've ridden on streets like Montgomery, Juan Tabo, etc. at rush hour and it's possible, but as a beginner and just for your sanity riding every morning, I'd look for something less busy.

I actually work 7-7 night shift, so I am hoping that I will miss rush hour if I plan it right. I actually work on Hardin. SNL Profoce, so that will be my stopping point. I was thinking of taking the arrollo (sp) up to wyoming but I dont know if the one by comanche goes up that far. I was told it goes all the way to Juan Tabo. I am going to see in the morning when I get off. But Claremont is another option. I would like to avoid the gibson/truman gate if I could.

Lots of base people it looks like on here! Did anyone get free fruit and gatorade this morning at hardin field? They had bike maps too, I highly recomend picking one up.

As for routes, I for one will ride 2 miles further to stay off main roads. I like to stick to bike paths when possible, or what the map marks as "bike routes" or connecting streets (usually residential or low traffic) streets.

you can go Albuquerque Bike Map (here http://www.cabq.gov/bike/pdfs/CABQ Bike Map.pdf) to download a PDF version of the bike path map in Albuquerque. But I highly recomend picking up a few (I leave one at work, one at home and carry one) of the paper maps, they have more detail. You can pick them up free at any bike shop.

I ride from Juan Tabo and Menual to just inside the Truman gate every day

Someone from my neck of the woods! I'm not too far from you, over at Juan Tabo and Copper.

I have two routes, the short one is down to eubank along I-40 (On bike path) then through residential to pop out right at the wyoming gate, about 6.5 miles. I'm training for the Bicycle Tour Colorado (www.bicycletourcolorado.com) at the end of June though, so I needed more miles. The route I take gets me 20 miles and has me clear over near commanche and I-40 (where the diversion channel trail and paseo del nordeste MUP meet), then through UNM, and up onto base at the truman gate, then alllll the way up through the base to the labs off Wyoming.

Is anyone up for an on base cycling lunch hour sometime? Something a little less competitive than the Reaper Ride hopefully :-) perhaps meet somewhere and ride to one of the base eateries? The bowling alley is centrally located (especially if .mil people are going) and has good food, if it ends up being lot of labs people we could ride out to the cafe out past TA5....they have great burgers.

you got any hills there? :p

It would be nice to maybe form some kind of get together to share ideas on commutes and ect.

+1. Sometimes we all need some support and reassurance that our cause is just. If anyone's interested in meeting on a commute and grabbing coffee, e-mail me at subvertit@gmail.com.

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Reza Fakhrai

Is anyone up for an on base cycling lunch hour sometime?

I wish I had that kind of free time! My lunch break entails me eating food as quickly as I can in between helping customers. I'm starting to hate being young....

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Reza Fakhrai

you got any hills there? :p

Albuquerque is on a grade (river runs through it) so there are some hills to be hand in town, but nothing extreme. It's also next to (town runs up into the western side) of the Sandia Mountains. Some good hill training can be had in the foothills and still in town, one ride called "The fingers" (five different streets go up pretty steep for a pretty long way) is a popular one, and one I've been doing. And you can always climb the back side of the mountain on a road bike, it's probably 8, 9 miles to the top? I have yet to do that one, but plan to very soon.

Albuquerque is a GREAT place to ride for all you not from here...we got ranked 3rd in bicycling magazine for towns of our side for cycling quality I think...The one thing they over looked is (one town was in AZ, and the other in CO) that in Albuquerque it REALLY IS possible to ride 365 days a year. We probably get snow 6-10 times on a heavy year (havn't seen that much in years though) and the tempature will peak at 100, maybe tops of 105 a couple of times a year, but through most of the summer it's mid 90's wich compared to AZ's heat is very bearable on a bike. AND we have almost no humidity, wich is a pluss IMHO.

GREAT town to ride in :-)

Albuquerque is on a grade (river runs through it) so there are some hills to be hand in town, but nothing extreme. It's also next to (town runs up into the western side) of the Sandia Mountains. Some good hill training can be had in the foothills and still in town, one ride called "The fingers" (five different streets go up pretty steep for a pretty long way) is a popular one, and one I've been doing. And you can always climb the back side of the mountain on a road bike, it's probably 8, 9 miles to the top? I have yet to do that one, but plan to very soon.

Albuquerque is a GREAT place to ride for all you not from here...we got ranked 3rd in bicycling magazine for towns of our side for cycling quality I think...The one thing they over looked is (one town was in AZ, and the other in CO) that in Albuquerque it REALLY IS possible to ride 365 days a year. We probably get snow 6-10 times on a heavy year (havn't seen that much in years though) and the tempature will peak at 100, maybe tops of 105 a couple of times a year, but through most of the summer it's mid 90's wich compared to AZ's heat is very bearable on a bike. AND we have almost no humidity, wich is a pluss IMHO.

GREAT town to ride in :-)

Amen. Riding in Albuquerque is tough sometimes because the east-bound streets are sometimes much longer and steeper than one would account for by car. All in all, it makes for a great training opportunity and the weather and scenery can be really beautiful sometimes.

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Reza Fakhrai

Another vote for Winnings coffee. Lots of cyclists hang out there too including one of the owners. As an aside, the building that now houses Irysh Macs used to be a LBS until it was discovered that the owner was selling a bit of blow on the side (NB: that is pure hearsay).

I commute from Harvard up Silver to Kelly's where I'm a brewer. takes about 3 minutes :-) but I often ride to visit friends. I go from UNM up the Paseo del Nordeste path to the curve then up to Louisiana. I'm on a Mountainbike with slicks and I nod but few return the motion.

I commute from Harvard up Silver to Kelly's where I'm a brewer.

My new best friend!

;)

+1. Sometimes we all need some support and reassurance that our cause is just. If anyone's interested in meeting on a commute and grabbing coffee

I'm usually to busy to do something on the way in, but I'd be up for something after work. I'd suggest meeting somewhere where we can hang out outside so we don't offend the olfactory sensibilities of the locals. I'll shoot you an email.

Someone from my neck of the woods! I'm not too far from you, over at Juan Tabo and Copper.

What do you ride, and when are you ussually on the road? I tend to go in early - between 0600 and 0700.


Is anyone up for an on base cycling lunch hour sometime? Something a little less competitive than the Reaper Ride hopefully :-)

I already ride in the racer's lunch ride when I manage to get out... ussually a 21 to 24 MPH pace. A couple other guys from my office on local teams ride every MWF. (I'm not a racer or on a team, although I'd like to get out to a couple crits this season)

I commute from Harvard up Silver to Kelly's where I'm a brewer. takes about 3 minutes :-)

I'm very jealous of your commuting situation. Interestingly enough, if you look to your right on Silver as you're passing Columbia, that's where I live. I'll look out for you. I'm also jealous of your gig at Kelly's; a very cool microbrewery.

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Reza Fakhrai

What do you ride, and when are you ussually on the road? I tend to go in early - between 0600 and 0700.

I ride an older Trek 2200. It's a 3-tube carbon setup, so the main triangle is carbon fiber, joined at the points with red aluminum. Back triangle is aluminum, and I have a carbon fiber fork on the front. Usually wear a red jacket in the mornings (though almost warm enough to take that off) and baggy shorts over my cycling shorts (get enough strange looks as it is...ya know?) I usually get in at 7:00, gives me time to shower and get over to my building (doesn't have a shower) by 7:30.


I already ride in the racer's lunch ride when I manage to get out... ussually a 21 to 24 MPH pace. A couple other guys from my office on local teams ride every MWF. (I'm not a racer or on a team, although I'd like to get out to a couple crits this season)

Tell me more about this MWF ride, sounds like it's about my speed, and I am always looking for ways to get more miles. how many people? where do ya'll meet? what time? How far? It's not the Reaper Ride right? that one meets at noon on Tuesday/Thursday, and I understand is pretty brutal. (Heard stories about guys crashing and the pack just rips on, never even looking back)





I commute from Harvard up Silver to Kelly's where I'm a brewer. takes about 3 minutes :-) but I often ride to visit friends. I go from UNM up the Paseo del Nordeste path to the curve then up to Louisiana. I'm on a Mountainbike with slicks and I nod but few return the motion.

Can anyone say beerfilter sponsored happy hour at Kelly's? Just kidding, I love Kelly's though, what are your hours there? I often go for happy hour with friends, but have no idea what a brewers schedule would be (probably not the same as happy hour folks :-) In regards to the nodding and not getting responses...WHAT'S UP with that? I get a lot of that too. I see one guy in perticular, EVERY morning, he's heading north from UNM and I'm heading south towards UNM. He's probably mid 35-45 years old, rides an older road bike, wears a red jacket, no helmet, and kinda bigish eye glasses. He's not going real fast, just kinda cruising all the time, rides really upright (for a road bike) and NEVER smiles, waves, even looks at me. One time I (just to see if I could get a reaction out of him) started waving wildly as soon as I could see him, then as I got closer yelled "TOP O' THE MORNIN' TO YA! GREAT DAY FOR A RIDE EH?" and NOTHIN....total stone face, like he hates me or somethin!

Can anyone say beerfilter sponsored happy hour at Kelly's? Just kidding, I love Kelly's though, what are your hours there? I often go for happy hour with friends, but have no idea what a brewers schedule would be (probably not the same as happy hour folks :-) In regards to the nodding and not getting responses...WHAT'S UP with that? I get a lot of that too. I see one guy in perticular, EVERY morning, he's heading north from UNM and I'm heading south towards UNM. He's probably mid 35-45 years old, rides an older road bike, wears a red jacket, no helmet, and kinda bigish eye glasses. He's not going real fast, just kinda cruising all the time, rides really upright (for a road bike) and NEVER smiles, waves, even looks at me. One time I (just to see if I could get a reaction out of him) started waving wildly as soon as I could see him, then as I got closer yelled "TOP O' THE MORNIN' TO YA! GREAT DAY FOR A RIDE EH?" and NOTHIN....total stone face, like he hates me or somethin!

I actually get more nods from roadies than commuters on that path! Weird. It's like they're all stuck up or something. It may be that I'm not in the reflective vest or fender club though :-)

I know one other guy who commutes to Kelly's by bike. He says he rides there from Wyoming via Central or Zuni. Brave guy; no helmet.

bf

Another Albuquerque rider here.

I've probably seen a lot of you guys/gals before-- sold my car three plus years ago. My commute is from downtown, up MLK, through campus and then through Nob Hill residential roads. I agree that it's a GREAT biking city. Easy to get around in. Big western streets, not much traffic, good bike trails (no cars allowed) along much of the arroyo system. I climb a long hill pretty much everywhere I go (living downtown) but I get it back each time!

I concur about Winnings. (111 Harvard SE) I LIVE there. The owners are some of the coolest people you'll meet and the place is funky. Excellent coffee, good food, spunky employees.

Great to hear familiar roads, places.

Chuckie

Tell me more about this MWF ride, sounds like it's about my speed, and I am always looking for ways to get more miles. how many people? where do ya'll meet? what time? How far? It's not the Reaper Ride right? that one meets at noon on Tuesday/Thursday, and I understand is pretty brutal. (Heard stories about guys crashing and the pack just rips on, never even looking back)

The number of people varries - probably 6 to 8 regulars, with random folks dropping in from time to time (at this point I probably count as random). In the warm part of the year it is much bigger than during the winter, when it might be just two or three. The route circles the base (from Eubank gate to South gate and areas in between) and it just about 20 miles. Joining up is sort of tough, because it's a rolling start and finish, from ~1145 to ~1215. By the time we pick it up by the Carlisle gate everyone else is joined up, and then people drop off along the way. The timing of everything is all very Zen and just sort of happens, with the various members knowing how to ride to compensate for leaving early or late. If you ride from the ABL toward the south gate at 12:30, you'll pass the group, and then maybe you can jump on and figure out how to join normally from where you "live".

I've yet to ride the Reaper, although it's similar to what you've described... I think they check to make sure you're not dead after you crash though. ;) From what I understand, the trick to the Reaper is that you should not expect to make it to the end... when you bonk you turn around and be prepared to jump onto the group when they come back (without causing a crash when you join up)


In regards to the nodding and not getting responses...WHAT'S UP with that? I get a lot of that too.

I agree. I try to acknowledge or respond to everyone I see, and I get a response about half the time.

Interestingly enough, if you look to your right on Silver as you're passing Columbia, that's where I live. I'll look out for you.

If you see a guy riding an old, blue Giant MTB with Geax slicks with green sidewalls and no saddle (I don't use it on short rides) yell, "Hey, Beerfilter!" :D

I concur about Winnings. (111 Harvard SE) I LIVE there. The owners are some of the coolest people you'll meet and the place is funky. Excellent coffee, good food, spunky employees.

Great to hear familiar roads, places.

I am there daily (I get sad the few days they are closed) though I never ride there. I could probably coast there on 10 pedal strokes. Hmmm. Maybe I'll see just how few pedal strokes it takes me to get there.

It's great to see Winnings get so much good press. The staff really is great. At least three of them ride to work that I know of.

bf

I concur about Winnings. (111 Harvard SE) I LIVE there. The owners are some of the coolest people you'll meet and the place is funky. Excellent coffee, good food, spunky employees.


One of the worst things about moving to Hilo is that I also used to LIVE in buzzing coffee houses, and there aren't any places like that here. :( Every time I go back to the mainland I spend much of my time reading and peoplewatching in bustling coffeehouses. Glad to hear ABQ has some places like that near campus.

So, as I stated before (but we've gotten more responses now), if anyone other than eaglevii is interested in getting together for coffee etc. whenever convenient, e-mail me at subvertit@gmail.com. I figured we'd at least get the conversational juices flowing and chill out in like company.

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Reza Fakhrai

That brisk wind here has helped get me back in shape with a quickness. When I first started commuting out to work I was averaging 12mph on my wide, knobby MTB tires and two weeks later I have already jumped up to 14mph. Slow I agree but I had been off a bike since last October. Blow wind blow!

:eek:

aah! ya'll let the thread fall while I was on vacation! :-) good thing I had it bookmarked!

Got back Monday night from Las Vegas NV, my wife and I went there with a dozen or so of her family members...let me just say, not a good idea.

That said I had some problems with my tires last week, and decided to replace them before riding in today. I must have been tired or spacing or both, cuz I managed to pinch wholes in not one, but TWO tubes. I decided to call it a night and buy new tubes today. One is patchable, but has slime in it and I'm wanting to get away from sealant as I think it's not really needed when using "the system" (tube inside old tire tread with bead cut off stuffed inside new tire) The other has large cuts at the valve stem so I just gave up. Got new tubes today, and should be on the road tomorrow. I'm looking forward to working out some frustration from my "vacation" on the bike. Expect record commute times tomorrow ;-)

I know how you feel. Family vacations or trips of any sort where a bicycling is not an option makes me that much more grateful for the two wheels when I get back. I haven't used "the system" but the guys at the Bike Coop recommended it as an alternative to heavy-duty tires/tubes. I opted for the thorn resistant tubes and tire liners. Since then, I haven't had any flats and the ride is just fine. Glad to see you're back on the road. We'll try not to let this thread fall to the bottom again. Happy riding!

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Reza Fakhrai