eNewMexican

Bicycling boom

Americans reached for their bicycles to exercise outdoors in a socially distant way

By Ashley M. Biggers

In all the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing was definite: It triggered a bicycling boom. Avoiding gyms and public transportation, Americans reached for their bicycles as a way to exercise outdoors on their own or in a socially distant way, commute to work and —let’s face it — just get out of the house. Market research firm NPD Group reported bicycle sales in April 2020 grew 75 percent over the same month in 2019. Casual, leisure and kids’ bikes flew off the shelves first. And, just as that trend started to wane, mountain and urban/ fitness bike sales surged.

Mike Chapman, owner of The Broken Spoke in Santa Fe, has felt this growth in his business. “We’ve seen growth every year we’ve been in business. But we came close to doubling what we’ve done in the previous year — even with reduced staff and hours and operating for almost a complete year out of our parking lot,” he says. Chapman’s biggest challenge now is getting bikes into the hands of customers. He’s contending with a nationwide bike shortage for both new rides and for maintenance parts, such as replacement chains. “We’re used to operating in a situation where everything’s available,” he says. Now, everything’s on back order. We’re not expecting to find our way out of that this year. Maybe in 2022.”

People on bikes

People who already had or could get their hands on a bike rode in record numbers over the past year. Advocacy group Peopleforbikes reported a particularly strong surge in the Southwest, with ridership in April 2020 up 134 percent over the previous year. The movement didn’t slow down. Ridership was still up 116 percent

in the region in February 2021. According to People for bikes, new riders were drawn to the sport because of the socialization it offers, as well as for stress relief.

Even longtime riders have enjoyed the (socially distant) camaraderie of cycling. Judy Costlow, president and ride leader of the Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes (SOBS), says the group’s over-50 membership has historically enjoyed gathering for social rides. In 2020, the group had to reduce the number of people gathering for rides. Traditionally, the group divvies up its 200-strong membership into riding and exertion levels, with the longest distance riders completing 40 to 60 miles during their group outings and the least riding around 20 miles.

Costlow says the group has seen a few new inquiries during the pandemic, but she expects that to increase over the summer when the group enters its April to October riding season with more of its membership vaccinated. The group welcomes new cyclists for a tryout ride before they join. Costlow has enjoyed seeing the new riders around town. “I really started riding my bike here 50 years ago,” she says. “I seldom saw other riders and hardly saw another woman for sure. I’m really proud of how cycling in Santa Fe has grown.”

Where to ride

Santa Fe has an ever-growing network of paved bicycle trails that offer traffic-free riding: a map is available on the city’s website. One of the most beginner-friendly trails, according to Costlow, is the Santa Fe Rail Trail. The trail follows the old Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway line, beginning at Santa Fe’s Railyard Park. The trail is paved for several miles between the Railyard and Rabbit Road; however, it quickly turns to a gravel surface as it makes its way another dozen miles over hilly terrain through Eldorado to Lamy. “It’s quite wonderful for people who are just starting and feel insecure riding on roads,” Costlow says.

For longer-distance road cycling, Brian Kreimendahl, a moderator for the Santa Fe Road Riders, recommends the Santa Fe Century route. Even if it isn’t race day for one of the city’s most popular cycling events, riders can still follow this path, also known as the Galisteo Loop, out NM 14 to Galisteo, looping back along US 285 through Eldorado. Kreimendahl also fancies climbs up Hyde Park Road to Ski Santa Fe, peddling through Tesuque Village to Nambe along the US 84/285 frontage road. The Road

Riders, a volunteer-led group that organizes public outings through Facebook, occasionally takes rides along these routes.

Santa Fe also offers a network of more than 50 miles of mountain-biking trails via the Dale Ball Trail System and La Tierra Trails. Chapman points riders to the latter, which has 25 miles of multiuse trails accessed via Camino de los Montoyas.

“It’s great for kids and beginners, but interesting enough for advanced riders,” he says.

For intermediate riders, Chapman recommends the Galisteo Basin Preserve, where 34 miles of trails carve the landscape south of town.

Advanced riders can climb into the national forest along the Winsor Trail. The out-and-back trail climbs and descends 3,600 feet over 20 miles, so riders should be fit to attempt this route. “It’s far and away the most well-known and popular trail in the national forest. Plus, there’s a lot of trails connecting to it, so there’s a lot of different ways one can ride it,” Chapman says. The trails at Glorieta Adventure Camp have also gained recent favor with more advanced riders. The private area offers 13 miles of trails with plenty of steep, rocky terrain and obstacles to test expert riders’ mettle. The Broken Spoke also operates a website (santafesingletrack.com) directing riders to the top mountain-bike trails, keeping up-to-date notes about trail conditions.

Chapman says there’s no time like now to take that bike that’s been sitting in your garage and sell it to another eager rider — or to dust it off and get out there yourself.

Ashley M. Biggers (ashleymbiggers.com) is an award-winning freelance journalist. She has written for CNN, AFAR, USA Today 10Best, Fodor’s Travel and many more organizations and publications. She’s the author of “100 Things to Do in Albuquerque Before You Die,” “Eco-travel New Mexico” and “Secret Albuquerque.”

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2021-05-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://enewmexican.pressreader.com/article/282149294208016

Santa Fe New Mexican