Rockin' around the clock: Enchanted Forest event delivers 24 hours of bike racing, live music and more

While the Enchanted Forest may fly under the radar for the majority of the year, there’s at least one summer weekend where it gets the attention it rightfully deserves.

Located in the Zuni Mountains just outside of Gallup, this area has been the backdrop for a bicycle endurance race hosted by Zia Rides since 2010. The course is a 13.5 mile loop with a 700-foot elevation gain that passes through scenic meadows, aspens and ponderosa pines while providing just enough rocky sections to satisfy veteran cyclists who want to test their technical ability.

Rockin' around the clock: Enchanted Forest Race delivers 24 hours of bike racing, live music and more

“It’s just beautiful. It’s one of my favorite places in New Mexico,” said event director Seth Bush. “Ultimately, we want to bring people and show them this amazing place that very few people would have known about otherwise. It’s exposing people from all over the Southwest and beyond to an amazing part of New Mexico that many New Mexicans don’t even visit.”

While there will be hardcore riders who do the 24-hour solo ride, there are options to suit the less experienced, whether it’s signing up for a relay (team size can range from five to as many as 10 for corporate entries) or doing the 12-hour version as an individual or duo. There’s also an Enchantedland ride, which utilizes an easier course and is ideal for families.

And when one isn’t riding, there’s plenty of entertainment on hand to keep everyone engaged.

“If you’re not a super strong rider but you want to come out and have a great time, sign up as a team with a few of your friends and just take turns doing laps. And during the rest of the time you’re hanging out at McGaffey Campground underneath the pine trees, hanging up your hammocks and enjoying summer in the mountains,” Bush said.

“We build a little town, and we bring in food trucks and vendors and live music, so there’s bands and stuff that play during the course of the weekend. We definitely build a community out there. It’s more than just riding your bike. It’s really a whole weekend to come out and enjoy summer in the mountains.”

The overnight portion of the 24-hour race comes with its own magic. The sense of isolation that already accompanies a visit to the forest is enhanced by the night ride, though cyclists are hardly alone during these times. Zia Rides partners with Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions for the event, and that group usually stays up through the night running aid stations and encouraging riders through singing, cheering and music.

“Riding at night often seems intimidating. Out there, it’s just fantastic,” Bush said. “The temperatures cool down, and you are riding with your lights on a single track out in the woods and it’s really a fantastic experience.”

Prizes are awarded for the top three finishers in each category, as well as the fastest male and female lap. However, there are plenty of other accolades for categories that aren’t as competition-oriented. These often occur through nomination and can vary from year to year.

“Sometimes it’s a person that takes time out of their race to help somebody out. Sometimes it’s just somebody that stands out —somebody who comes riding in and had a little accident and is covered in dirt,” Bush said. “If we see something or recognize something about a person, we want to leave the opportunity open to recognize those folks and give them a little award.

“Sometimes your favorite rider isn’t necessarily your fastest rider.”

The 24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest race tends to foster community among its participants. Bush says it’s an ideal choice for mountain bike riders looking for their first event, and it’s a place where organizers and participants alike are more than willing to share information with rookies. The ride’s mantra is outlined multiple times throughout the race’s official rulebook and is taken seriously. Just look it up.

“You should treat people on the trail like you would expect them to treat your loved ones,” Bush said. “None of us are getting paid exorbitant amounts of money to do any of this. Most people are just amateurs. There is occasionally someone who might have some professional experience who does it, but we’re just out there having fun.”