The Holy Grit Bike Ride this year takes place on September 21st and will be based out of the Elks Lodge Camp Ground by Navajo Lake. The ride is open to cyclists of all levels and offers three distances to choose from.
Starting with a 12-mile distance that climbs over Smith Pass with a total elevation gain above 1,700 feet. Be carful on the downhill there are some really fast sections with loose rocks on the road.
The next route is a 21-miles in distance that goes right by the Francis Canyon Ruin.
The longest ride of 28 miles takes you back over Smith Pass going backwards from the 12 mile riders course. There is just over 3,400 feet of climbing on this route. Stay to the right side of the road.
The ride is a great way to experience the beauty of Northwestern New Mexico and to challenge yourself both physically and mentally. It is also a great opportunity to meet other cyclists and to enjoy the camaraderie of the cycling community.
There is limited cell service in the area... please keep this in mind as this is a wilderness setting in terms of rescue. Let people know in advance if you go and pre-ride, this area is remote and has limited cell service. Riders MUST ride on the right side of the road and be aware of other road users. Be careful of industry workers and other people using the roads, they are NOT closed during our event. Although the traffic will be less being that it is a weekend, please be aware that there are other road users out there to be cautious of. MANDATORY navigation device of some sort to help riders avoid confusion. The course will be marked but due to how easy it is to get turned around out there and the lack of cell service we require all riders to have a navigation device with the route downloaded. Please hang around after riding to enjoy the music, food, and beverages.
Download the route file here:
12 mile:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=10.4/-107.7242/36.7905&pubLink=E0a8tHoVXBXre1bnm5nte9VX&folderId=e7c16062-59bf-4d03-a890-f97cbffedfec
21 mile:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=10.4/-107.7242/36.7905&pubLink=Dk74i0v93AwnBMjYUpkHkZcw&folderId=5d00d852-f10e-43ce-9fbd-2516f8311be6
28 mile:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=10.1/-107.7221/36.7831&pubLink=IXV5QnPdjD3NKsmt1qrCvmlR&folderId=aa15d4f7-de57-4cca-beab-f59a8a1276e7
Event Details
- Date: Setember 21st 2024
- Time: Starts at 10:00am (packet pickup 8:30)
- Location: Elks Lodge Camp Grounds above Navajo Lake
- Ride Distances: 12 or 21 miles
- Cost: $35 - $60
- Categories include (Open Male/Female, u16 Male/Female, u13 Male/Female)
What to Expect
- Family-friendly
- Food, beverages, entertainment
- marked course and 1 aid stations (located at the top of Smith Pass)
- Stunning views
- A beautiful venue
- Camaraderie of the cycling community
