'Tour of the Gila'

[Sidewinder]

Anybody here ever done the 'Tour of the Gila' bike race? It's described as a "5-day stage race in New Mexico featuring epic climbs, dangerous descents, and challenging terrain." I can vouch for the Gila Wilderness, as I've begun riding my KTM thumper out there on the trails, but I'm no road racer on a bicycle, I prefer riding my pedal bike at the local skatepark in Silver City. Just wondering if any site members have done this race, it looks pretty brutal for road racers, and some of those grades out there are steep as f____, I can tell ya that much, lol. There are heller cool trails to ride out there on a mountain bike or "adult BMX bike"---I'm just exploring the myriad trails on my thumper, not as much work involved in twisting a throttle, aye?

[Sidewinder]

Hmm, nobody here at this site has done the 'Tour of the Gila?' Oh, well, I AM living in the boondocks, lol... and I'm heading into 'The Gila' (as locals call it) tomorrow, but I'll be riding the big ol' KTM thumper, not my pedal bike, aye?

There are times when I like twisting a throttle, and I'd need a multi-geared pedal bike for those trails anyway, the grades can be steep and the distances impressive, especially in the Black Range where peaks rise above 10,000' elevation. High for these parts, lol...

But no worries, I'll take my little Canon cam and snap some killer photos, maybe post a link to the thread at FV... where I usually hang out on the web, it's a knitting circle of elderly ladies but they're pretty funny, lol. Hey, don't knock that life experience!

Okay, I'm back to my hard cider and this ridiculous BS Hollywood movie, but I'll be back like a bad rash to plague y'all further... as a former Infantry soldier, I really appreciate the 1000-round "John Wayne Magazines" in these Hollywood films! They must come in handy during firefights!

P.S. Holy Cr@p! Exactly 12 hours since my last post in a different thread! Ya know, I couldn't do that again if I TRIED, and there are odds-makers in Vegas who will back my claim, lol. Meh, it's a sign from the cosmos, and I think it means I should go trail riding manana!

Better post a pic of the KTM so newcomers don't get confused, lol... it's a sweet bike, I just changed the engine oil today and topped off the coolant! The bike is rarin' to go, and I feel like riding some serious trails in the mountains tomorrow!

   

[GirishH]

@Sidewinder, my close friend stayed in Silver City and I heard a lot of the riding, hiking scene there...:-) Unfortunately, I never visited them while they were there..

Now, I am trying to see if I can visit them in France.

I loved NM though and almost moved there for job before deciding to explore another part of the world...:-)

(10-02-2025, 12:40 AM)Sidewinder Wrote:  Hmm, nobody here at this site has done the 'Tour of the Gila?' Oh, well, I AM living in the boondocks, lol... and I'm heading into 'The Gila' (as locals call it) tomorrow, but I'll be riding the big ol' KTM thumper, not my pedal bike, aye?

There are times when I like twisting a throttle, and I'd need a multi-geared pedal bike for those trails anyway, the grades can be steep and the distances impressive, especially in the Black Range where peaks rise above 10,000' elevation. High for these parts, lol...

But no worries, I'll take my little Canon cam and snap some killer photos, maybe post a link to the thread at FV... where I usually hang out on the web, it's a knitting circle of elderly ladies but they're pretty funny, lol. Hey, don't knock that life experience!

Okay, I'm back to my hard cider and this ridiculous BS Hollywood movie, but I'll be back like a bad rash to plague y'all further... as a former Infantry soldier, I really appreciate the 1000-round "John Wayne Magazines" in these Hollywood films! They must come in handy during firefights!

P.S. Holy Cr@p! Exactly 12 hours since my last post in a different thread! Ya know, I couldn't do that again if I TRIED, and there are odds-makers in Vegas who will back my claim, lol. Meh, it's a sign from the cosmos, and I think it means I should go trail riding manana!

Better post a pic of the KTM so newcomers don't get confused, lol... it's a sweet bike, I just changed the engine oil today and topped off the coolant! The bike is rarin' to go, and I feel like riding some serious trails in the mountains tomorrow!

[Sidewinder]

It's not a bad place to live, though riding a bike in town can be dangerous... safer on the trails, go figure.

Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving Weekend, mine was filled with free football thanks to the directional antenna I just installed, lol. No way I PAY to watch football when I can pull in a whole heap of HDTV signals with this antenna. No expensive cable or satellite TV outfits, and no expensive football apps for this kid, lol...

Turns out there are two towers in line of sight from my home, and the SW tower must have broadcast repeaters, because I'm pulling in 31 channels... including the 'Big Three' (or subsidiary channels of the 'Big Three') and the Fox Channel as well. Gotta love "sticking it to the man!" Did I ever tell y'all that I'm a CHEAP B@STARD?

I won't get Prime or ESPN, unless the latter channel farms out the game, but WHO CARES? I'll get enough free football to satisfy me, and it won't cost me one thin dime, lol. I DID pay $50 plus tax for the new antenna, but the picture on most channels is perfect... totally worth the investment, just to drop-kick the cable & satellite outfits, football apps, etc.

   

   

[GirishH]

@Sidewinder, that's interesting because my friend too used to say that NM was an unsafe place to cycle, especially the roads..:-(

I did see quite a bit "ghost bikes" in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. I did ride a rented bicycle upto Taos but trails definitely are safely whether I am in NM or another part of the world.

No, Thanksgiving here in Nepal/ India or atleast in the Himalayas but am definitely thankful everyday for the blessings, good fortune and health..

I am not a big football fan eventhough I went to PennState...

(12-01-2025, 06:02 PM)Sidewinder Wrote:  It's not a bad place to live, though riding a bike in town can be dangerous... safer on the trails, go figure.

Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving Weekend, mine was filled with free football thanks to the directional antenna I just installed, lol. No way I PAY to watch football when I can pull in a whole heap of HDTV signals with this antenna. No expensive cable or satellite TV outfits, and no expensive football apps for this kid, lol...

Turns out there are two towers in line of sight from my home, and the SW tower must have broadcast repeaters, because I'm pulling in 31 channels... including the 'Big Three' (or subsidiary channels of the 'Big Three') and the Fox Channel as well. Gotta love "sticking it to the man!" Did I ever tell y'all that I'm a CHEAP B@STARD?

I won't get Prime or ESPN, unless the latter channel farms out the game, but WHO CARES? I'll get enough free football to satisfy me, and it won't cost me one thin dime, lol. I DID pay $50 plus tax for the new antenna, but the picture on most channels is perfect... totally worth the investment, just to drop-kick the cable & satellite outfits, football apps, etc.

[Sidewinder]

There are some bad drivers here... not only distracted, but unobservant, ya know? So I'll probably save the pedal bike for certain trails in the wilderness, or for several nearby state parks where riding is safer.

I'm still riding out the thumb injury, it's taking forever to heal... in my youth, this sort of fracture would heal overnight, lol. Meh, at least I'm getting some home rehab work done, thumb or no thumb, so no worries.

I need to take the KTM thumper out for a spin soon, it has been sitting in the shed for over a month... but I added fuel stabilizer last time I gassed up, so that'll help keep the corn crud (ethanol) from gunking up my carb too badly.

The pedal bike is fine, I keep it inside the house so it's in great shape, lol. I like that SE Racing bike, it has been a good bike overall... once the stupid thumb has healed, I'll take it for a ride, probably down in the high desert instead of the cold mountains, lol.

BTW, I saw a web blurb about someone getting bitten by a rabid coyote in the Gila National Forest... I suppose a rabid coyote would add to the adventure in the 'Tour of the Gila!' Might even boost performance! Pedal faster or get bitten, lol.