Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Looking for Route Near Santa Fe

We've got a family gathering coming up, and we're meeting at a place south of Santa Fe, NM -- Los Cerrillos, just off route 14. I think the Santa Fe Century goes down that road (which is why I posted to this forum), so I wondered if anyone on this forum has been on that route and can tell me if it's reasonably safe -- decent shoulder, etc. I'm also curious about route 41, about 8 miles to the east.

Would either of these roads be suitable if I wanted to take relatively inexperienced teenage riders along?

Google maps also shows some back roads that look promising -- if anyone knows about Camino Los Abuelos or Gold Mine Road, I'd love to hear about those, too.

We'll have limited vehicles, so hauling the bikes any distance to ride is not a great option. I'd like to just hop on our bikes and go.

I just did the Santa Fe Century a couple of weeks ago, although I'm not from the area. I thought Rt 14 south of El Cerillos was the absolute nicest part of that ride - moderately hilly, nice scenery. Go through Madrid, then turn left on rt344 for "Heartbreak Hill" - a challengingly steep yet short section of road. I don't remember any issues with traffic or shoulders - reasonable shoulder, almost no traffic.

Rt 41 is the other side of the loop on the SFC. The southern part is boring and pretty ugly, but flatter than the west side of the SFC loop. The shoulder comes and goes, but there is very little traffic so I didn't feel it mattered much. The northern part, up by Galiteo, has fairly nice scenery but less shoulder than the southern part around Stanley.

There are some bike shops in Santa Fe, I bet you could get recommendations from them.

Hope that helps.

A few years ago, Rt 14 used to be windier and slower. The DOT, in their wisdom, opted to create a faster road for the car commuters. No shoulder improvements!

They wrecked a nice ride to Madrid.

Cars really zing by you now!!!!

Thanks, both of you, for your input. I think I'll take my bike, but I'll tell the kids to wait and maybe rent.