Saturday's Ride 7/21: Jemez Dam (Thwarted)

[Editor's Note: A big thank you to Eric for chronicling the adventure, and for Val sending on pictures!  Looks like it was an adventure - with a new record of 16 riders participating.  Eric's write up below.]

66 miles. Jemez Dam. A flat ride without much drama. That was the plan. 

The cycling gods had other ideas. 

Diane, TJ, Andrew, Gary C, Val, Justin, Erica and Kenneth, Calvin, Craig, Greg, Eric & Laura all saddled up for the ride. We relapsed into counting problems when we kept coming up one short from the group expected in David's email. That was solved when we realized Val had been listed twice. With no Val clone in sight, we chalked it up to a typo and went on our way.

Cruisin' thorough Nob Hill

The main peloton departed from Nob Hill and rode the diversion channel to Paseo del Norte, where it rendezvoused with Calvin, Greg and Craig, who had ridden directly from their homes on the East side of ABQ. We rode north out of town and made for Bernalillo along NM 313. Justin took the lead to guide us through Bernalillo to the Jemez Dam. We were passing the Santa Ana Star Casino when disaster struck.

Ride faster, they are going to catch you!

The group's formation broke down at a stop sign. Calvin and Greg collided and entangled amidst the chaos. Calvin soft-landed without injury to him or his bike. Greg went down harder, with scrapes on his elbow and a damaged right brake/shift lever. Their teammates sprung into action. Val produced a first-aid kit instantaneously and tended to Greg's elbow. At the same time Calvin, Andrew and Laura set to work on Greg's bike. They got the rear brake working again, but shifting was limited to one or two gears. Greg essentially rode a single-speed for the rest of the ride, and he did an impressive job of it.

When the crash response was complete was continued towards Jemez Dam. On the road leading to the dam we passed one of the more interesting cyclists we've seen lately. What set him apart wasn't the vintage bike helmet or the loud radio, but the huge cigar in his mouth. While we debated the merits of cycling with stogies, Erica proposed that she ride the MS150 with a cigar of her own, and ask fellow riders for a light as she passed them. Her proposal was eagerly accepted. Erica, you're committed now!

Penultimate emergency response

The second surprise of the day came from the gate that closed of the road to Jemez Dam. It was clear we could go no farther without going over/under/around the gate. The team was considering these options until Diane relate a story of a friend who'd been arrested for a similar maneuver. 

That left us to find a new route. TJ came through big here. He improvised a route back to ABQ along NM 528, with a diversion along Idalia Rd and then Iris Rd. to add some hill work to make up for miles lost by the Jemez Dam closure. The route then turned southeast along NM 448 for a scenic stretch through Corrales, followed by a link-up with Alameda and the Bosque trail. 

Mmmmm, breakfast!

Calvin, Craig, and Greg (still riding his crippled bike) turned East to head home once we reached the Bosque trail. The rest of the group continued south to Nob Hill, where a delicious brunch at Serafin's Chili Hut awaited (including their new offering, Billy's Chilies Beer!). The route by GPS is here.