Tour of the Rio Grande Bicycle Century offers a flat, scenic tour of NM

Since the 1970s, riding in the Rio Grande Valley has been something of a tradition for cycling enthusiasts in New Mexico.

Founded in 2019 by Michael O. Wieclaw, the Tour of the Rio Grande Bicycle Century carries on that legacy with a ride that is billed as “the flattest 100-mile bicycle route” in the state. While that boast is not officially verified, it’s not likely to be disputed, either.

“It can be said. Is it actually true? I don’t know,” Wieclaw said. “But it’s very flat.”

The event offers four rides — 39, 62, 80 or 100 miles — to cyclists of various skill levels. The shorter versions can be reduced by approximately half the distance if a rider elects to take the Rail Runner back from a nearby rest stop that marks the halfway point. The Tour of the Rio Grande typically attracts more than 300 participants, with the century being the most popular option. Wieclaw will cap registration at 350 people.

“There may be a day I make it bigger,” Wieclaw said. “This is just a comfortable thing to manage.”

While the lack of hilly terrain is certainly part of the appeal, the scenery is also a significant perk. The ride begins at the Bernalillo County/International Sunport Rail Runner Station in the South Valley and goes south to Los Lunas, Belen and Bernardo before looping back around. Passing through rural areas allows riders to see a more laid back side of the Land of Enchantment, including farms, churches, parks and various agriculture.

“Most of the time when people come to our town, they’re looking at the ‘Breaking Bad’ stuff or the necessary Albuquerque or Santa Fe-type stuff,” Wieclaw said. “When you leave those areas, there’s these small, quaint areas where there’s communities that have existed for quite some time. The homes and the route just have so much charm, specifically when you’re riding through.”

There are also plenty of precautions in place to ensure the safest possible ride for participants. This includes HAM radio personnel along the ride, three EMT stations, mobile bicycle repair and route guides.

“Our communication is super tight,” Wieclaw said. “It’s just a smaller ride. It’s super fun. When people ride it, they can have their space that they feel safe.”

While the Tour of the Rio Grande website lists the start time at 7 a.m., cyclists can begin whenever they please. However, it is recommended that participants are on the road by 9 a.m. at the latest — and by 8 a.m. for the century. For some, the start time isn’t really an issue.

“The majority of people that are signing up for the century, they’re over 55, and they’re doing 100 miles in four and a half hours,” Wieclaw said. “... They’re just programmed to do it.”

One doesn’t need to be on that level to participate, though a certain amount of fitness and cycling ability is necessary to complete any of the rides. Wieclaw makes it clear that the event is a tour, not a “race,” which means there isn’t a mass start and times aren’t tracked for competition. With that being said, there are plenty of cyclists who are trying to meet personal goals during the proceedings.

“There will be quite a few that will (ride for time). They’ll figure that out,” Wieclaw said. “My ride is coming at the end of the summer season. So you would imagine that most people who are active cyclists or people who want to do cycling, they’re doing it in the summer. The culmination of their work is going to really blossom at my event. It’s an event where they can align their speculative peak performance and a ride that boasts to being the flattest in the state.”

And if that’s not part of the agenda, well, that’s just fine, too.

“The people that ride in it, I appreciate their interest so much. I just hope that I deliver their perfect ride day,” Wieclaw said. “(I hope) they just leave and are like, ‘That’s perfect. I didn’t have to think about anything but riding.’ ”