Opening October 23rd, and running through November 11th NHCC will once again host Ofrendas created by school children, community members and Duke City Wheelmen. On November 5th there will be special Dia de los Muertos celebrations at NHCC. Reserve your spot or read more about these events here.
How did the Record Challenge Time Trial come to be named in remembrance of Paula Higgins?
Paula was many things to the cycling community. She was active in NMBRA in its earliest days, together with her husband Jerry Kiuttu. Paula was my Landis teammate, along with Carolyn Donnelly. We rode many AZ and NM races together, sporting the green and white of team White Mountain. She won the NMBRA New Mexico Road Series championship in her division 6 times.
Paula was a time trialist too. She got the gold medal at the 1997 National Championship in the Women’s Tandem Time Trial event with Carolyn Donnelly. Carolyn and Paula still hold the National Tandem TT record that they set in 1995.
You can see the wealth of TT records that have been set at our very own Moriarity course here.
Paula and Jerry were the force behind the Moriarity course being surveyed, which was essential for it to become the record setting course that it is. Jerry officiated at many runnings of the Record Challenge and they were both heavily involved in organizing and promoting the event.
Paula’s death was the impetus for placing one of the first ghost bikes in Albuquerque and the start of Duke City Wheelmen. There were some early attempts and finally we placed her ghost bike in February, 2010. It is located at Pennsylvania and Comanche NE on the southeast corner.
Ghost bikes in Albuquerque and indeed throughout New Mexico, have had an impact on some, although I know that it is not universally positive. Just as important is the fact that when cyclists improve their capacity to interact with motorists and create more space for themselves on our streets and highways, we can cycle more safely. As a vulnerable road user, we bear more burden, thinking, both for ourselves and for motorists. It is true that they don’t see us, but that is not a fixed condition. We can be seen, but it requires more of us.
A ghost bike was placed for Joe Gamez on Saturday, August 20th at 10:00 AM at the location where he was hit, Unser Blvd. & Kimmick Drive NW.
Big thanks to KRQE for covering this ghost bike installation.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/ghost-bike-at-unser-and-kimmick-honors-mans-friend/
Joe Gamez and Eric Bailey were cycling at this location, Unser Blvd. & Kimmick Drive NW, on Saturday, July 9th when they were hit by a drunk driver. Joe Gamez succumbed to his traumatic brain injuries on July 21, 2022.
Eric Bailey, the Gamez family and numerous friends and extended family gathered on August 20, 2022 at 10:00 am at the site of the crash for the placement of a ghost bike, a bicycle painted white that meant to honor a fallen cyclist, to honor this place and Joe’s life.
This ghost bike will serve to memorialize Joe, to help his grieving family and friends, and to bring increased awareness to the issues of drunk driving and the need for increased awareness of cyclists on our streets and highways.
The ghost bike was placed by Duke City Wheelmen, a safe cycling non-profit in Albuquerque, NM.
30 sellers and hundreds of customers came to the bike swap on March 20 and lots of merch was moved.
$1230.00 dollars were donated to Global Empowerment Mission.
$1250.00 dollars were donated to Razom for Ukraine.
Duke City Wheelmen could not have done it without such fantastic community support.
Trek Bicycle Albuquerque parking lot
March 20, 2022
9:00AM- 12:00PM
Who: Cyclists of all stripes!!
What: Bicycles and bicycle parts of all types, sorts and sizes
When: Sunday March 20th 8:00 AM seller set-up; 9:00 AM to noon for buyers.
Where: Trek Bicycles Albuquerque, 5000 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque NM
Why: Because there is Cycling Stuff y’all need & Stuff people want to sell!
WHY: To raise money for Ukraine relief efforts
In addition to individual sellers who will purchase a table for $20.00 dollars, Duke City Wheelmen has many new-in-the-box items for sale. These are donated items, NEW, that we are selling to raise money for ghost bikes and safe cycling education here in New Mexico (50%) and will split the rest between two groups providing aid to Ukraine. These groups are:
Ukraine Crisis aid through Global Empowerment Mission
Razom for Ukraine
Razom translates from Ukrainian to English as “Together”. Together for Ukraine
registration is open
https://www.bikereg.com/la-mosca-bicicleta
Get 2 (or more) of your friends to register and we'll refund you 20%!
Your friends will ALL receive 10% off their registration too, using a code they will receive from your referral.
Some things will be different this year, but riders will still be
supported
with three aid stations & rider discounted no-host style food & beverages at the finish.
New for 2021
Rolling start between 7 and 8 AM
Start & finish at Route 66 Junkyard Brewery
Register at BikeReg
https://www.bikereg.com/la-mosca-bicicleta
Mark your calendar!!
Short Loop: 60 miles
http://bit.ly/ShortLoopLaMosca
Long Loop: 80 miles
Long loop GPS track – Please note this track was made using some computer software, combined with track data from the previous course. There could be small errors. I’ll drive the course to set flag markers on Friday and upload that trace Friday evening. If riders use this track, plus watch for the flags, they will be fine on the 80 mile loop. The 60 mile GPS track is from an actual ride!
Because I don’t know your exposure or vaccination status, to mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the following steps will be taken:
Even during a pandemic, cyclists can be killed.
This link will take you to more pictures and a nice story in the Taos News https://bit.ly/TaosMcLaughlin
On Wednesday, July 1, I was in the Taos, NM area to install a ghost bike for Mark McLaughlin, who was killed Friday June 26, 2020. The exact location is 163 State Route 230, Arroyo Seco, 87514.
The event was at 6:30pm.
About 20 people, family that came in from out of state, and nearby residents, attended.
Here is the original report from Taos News. I don’t have any other details about the crash.
https://www.taosnews.com/stories/bicyclist-killed-by-vehicle-in-el-prado,64559
Get yourself and your gear ready for 47 or 67 miles of Road + Dirt = FUN!
Links to course profiles:
La Mosca Bicicleta 68
La Mosca Bicicleta 47
If you are looking for a tune up for the Crusher in the Tushar, look no further. Burke’s ride deserves copycats, because it is so awesome. La Mosca is modeled after his fantastic event.
Looking for a discount??
You can find a flyer with the discount code at these fine local businesses:
Northeast Cyclery (new location in Hoffmantown Plaza; 8238 Menaul NE, at Wyoming)
Trek Superstore, 5000 Menaul NE
Little Bear Coffee, 2632 Pennsylvania St NE
Michale Thomas Coffee, 1111 Carlisle Blvd SE
Gran Fondo [Taos, Mora, Angel Fire]
September 22, 2019
Plan to celebrate the fall equinox with us in beautiful norther New Mexico
Martinez family honoring Gregory Lee Martinez II; 1986-1994.
10005 Lyon Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114