wow - too bad it doesnt end in wlasenburg...

yup - I've had rides in taos and colfax canyons - I lived in Taos for 5 years, started riding there. Many locals will not ride hwy 64 taos-angelfire (taos canyon) - narrow, no shoulder, blind curves winnebagos, drunk drivers, folks from the flatlands swinging wide on tight bends, big trucks (only east west route in northern NM). Its scarey in a car, mostly because you'll find an RV or a drunk (or even worse a drunk DRIVING an RV) coming at you in your lane on a tight bend. WHen you get to eaglenest, clear sailing till angelfire then same bad stuff till you are back down in taos. I never rode those canyons, and the only time I'd consider it would be during the century that they have over that route. (going on about now, I believe). Once could go eaglenest->Red River->Questa but its farther, has a 10,000+ foot pass, a 13 mile coast from red river to QUesta, and 20 miles of decent road with a LOOONG climb up over a moderate ridge back to taos. I'll take La Veta pass.

anyway, thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I still have questions about using a 48-39-33 on the front, 22-34 on the back, and will pose this specific question on a new thread since this one is really about done, with the starting point determined, the route roughly picked, the trailer idea abandoned (yea!) and all the great advice you all helped with. chime in here if you think of anything else....

I think I'll post any additional questions in short, specific threads. this one got to be hard to handle duyring my OC oposting phase.