September 12 - New Mexico State Gravel Hill Climb Championships of the world: Water Canyon
Cost: Free
Staging area: Click HERE for a Google map of the staging area. We will ride to the start of the race together.
Start time: 9:30AM roll out from the staging area. 10AM race start!
Entry Limit: 74 So sign up now!
2021 Results are now up. Thank you to everyone that came out to the inaugural New Mexico State Gravel Hill Climb Championships Of The World. Just think, in 20 years when this race is even more prestigious than it is now (if that is even possible?!) you will be able to reflect and say "I was there for the first one!". Right on. We've had some schedule changes so keep your eyes peeled for updates on this site and on Nero Veloce's Instagram account @neroveloce. See you guys and gals out there!
Camping: A short drive up from the staging area (the picnic area) is the campground and group site campground. We have the Water Canyon group site reserved for Saturday, September 11 to Sunday the 12. The regular campground has 12 sites first come first served. There is no fee this year for the campgrounds. Additionally, there are multiple dispersed camping options in the immediate vicinity. Something like a Honda Civic might struggle to get to the campgrounds, but a Subaru can manage no problem.
Sign in before 9:30 at the picnic area/staging area. We will have the sign in sheet at the top of the climb to have everyone write their finish time for results. You will ride to the table with the time clock, collect your card (unique to each race, gotta catch them all!), stamp the card, write the time on the sign in sheet, place card in provided Ziploc bag, and treasure the card forever.
The Climb: This one is a monster.
The Climb: This one is a monster. 12.6 miles, 6.5% average grade, 4,312 ft to a finish at 10,442. But this doesn't tell the whole story. You begin at the intersection of State Highway 60 and Water Canyon Rd. The first 5 miles are paved, you have a gradual grade with a big view of the mountain looming straight in front of you. As you make your way through the bottom of the canyon, look to the left/east to the big rock formations rising up. There are numerous interesting geological formations throughout the climb, but you won't be in a state to observe those soon. When you reach the forest service picnic area, the road turns to dirt, and begins climbing in earnest. The dirt section averages 8.5%.
The dirt road is in pretty good condition as of beginning of August. Not rutted or rocky, maybe a little thick and loose in places. You climb a steeper grade, rising more quickly through the canyon, and it's possible to settle into a rhythm here. You start to think, "this isn't so bad, I think I'm on a good day, I'll put down some power here." Don't. Eat, drink, and conserve. You won't want to do any of those things soon, not when you begin the switchbacks. There are rises on the switchbacks where the gradient rises far into the teens. Usually where the gravel is loose. The views from this section are amazing, I can't think of any other road in the state where you can see so much mountain and so many other parts of the road where it snakes above and below, trying to find a passable route up a wall. If there weren't an observatory at the summit, it would be unlikely that the effort would be made to create a road up this mountain.
Only once you climb past 10,000 ft does the road begin to ease off the gradient, following a ridge to the summit. If you haven't gone cross-eyed you will see the observatory ahead, above. Simultaneously you will be relieved to see the finish and dismayed at how high it still is. The road now exacts it's final revenge, having lulled you into thinking you may actually finish, it now throws down a final steep and loose rise. Once you make your way to the finish, try to hold the card steady enough to get a legible time out of the time clock...
The first time I rode this I had 700x38 gravel kings and 36x34 gearing. I had to walk a few switchbacks and felt over-geared nearly the whole time. The gravel is loose enough that it's hard to keep traction out of the saddle. Recently I rode 700x48 knobbies and 31x34 gearing. Even with the less than 1:1 gearing I felt like I was grinding sometimes. I'd recommend making your gearing as easy and spinny as possible.
The dirt road is in pretty good condition as of beginning of August. Not rutted or rocky, maybe a little thick and loose in places. You climb a steeper grade, rising more quickly through the canyon, and it's possible to settle into a rhythm here. You start to think, "this isn't so bad, I think I'm on a good day, I'll put down some power here." Don't. Eat, drink, and conserve. You won't want to do any of those things soon, not when you begin the switchbacks. There are rises on the switchbacks where the gradient rises far into the teens. Usually where the gravel is loose. The views from this section are amazing, I can't think of any other road in the state where you can see so much mountain and so many other parts of the road where it snakes above and below, trying to find a passable route up a wall. If there weren't an observatory at the summit, it would be unlikely that the effort would be made to create a road up this mountain.
Only once you climb past 10,000 ft does the road begin to ease off the gradient, following a ridge to the summit. If you haven't gone cross-eyed you will see the observatory ahead, above. Simultaneously you will be relieved to see the finish and dismayed at how high it still is. The road now exacts it's final revenge, having lulled you into thinking you may actually finish, it now throws down a final steep and loose rise. Once you make your way to the finish, try to hold the card steady enough to get a legible time out of the time clock...
The first time I rode this I had 700x38 gravel kings and 36x34 gearing. I had to walk a few switchbacks and felt over-geared nearly the whole time. The gravel is loose enough that it's hard to keep traction out of the saddle. Recently I rode 700x48 knobbies and 31x34 gearing. Even with the less than 1:1 gearing I felt like I was grinding sometimes. I'd recommend making your gearing as easy and spinny as possible.