Ride in Santa Fe Century’s Annual Bike Race

One of the joys of travel is encountering new challenges

Sometimes those challenges are a natural part of your experience, and sometimes you choose right off the bat to include them in your itinerary

I've chosen to travel to Santa Fe in May to participate in the Santa Fe century

an annual bike race that's been held in northern New Mexico for over three decades

riders can choose 20, 50, or 100 miles, either on paved roads or along nearby mountain biking trails

I'm cycling with local Cynthia Baca, who's participated in the Santa Fe century over the last few years

So, Cynthia, why do people do this race? I think to say that they've accomplished 100 miles, the challenge, the hills

And we're on a scene at Byway. I'm seeing the sign. Yes. Oh, yeah, we are

Love it. One of the attractions to this particular bike race is the route

We're on the turquoise trail, a national scenic byway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe

that passes through old mining towns, along routes once traveled by Spanish missionaries

outlaws, and Confederate soldiers. One of the highlights is the town of Madrid where art galleries and shops mix with popular local haunts The hardest part of the race is Heartbreak Hill

Well, Cynthia, you love those downhills, but then it leads you to those uphill

Yes, that's correct. Here we go. Okay, I'm ready to take it on

Okay, let's do this hill. Let's do this. Let's do this. Okay

I thought this race was pretty easy up till now. Now it's getting hard

A mile long, at an average 12% grade, you see people ride in all kinds of ways

on this grueling part of the race. For out-of-towners like me, Santa Fe's higher altitude

makes simply breathing a bit of a challenge. The only saving grace

is that everyone seems to be struggling on Heartbreak Hill. Cynthia decides to walk her bike

You keep doing, don't. Darling, come on. Getting hot. Really hot. I'm walking right next to you

Come on. Come on, darling. You can do it. But at least she cheers me on to get to the top

You got it. This is a crazy one, Cynthia. I told you. Yay

You survived. Hard to break here. Woo! Only 60 more miles to go