This episode is the first one to come from my recent road trip to New Mexico and Arizona to interview guest for the podcast. My first stop was in Las Cruces, NM to meet up with Matt Mason to ride a portion of the Monumental Loop. We rode up to the base of the Organ Mountains and camped in perfect weather. In the morning we recorded this episode under little outcropping before descending 10 miles back to town on some epic singletrack.
One of Matt’s daughters Matt Interviewing on the ML
You may have noticed that the route was revised and released as the Monumental Loop 2.0. These changes were made for several reason, but all in an effort to make the route more enjoyable and attractive to a wider range of riders. We get into all the specifics on this episode and it left me wanting to spend more time than I had available on this trip. I will be back!
The following was provided by Matt Mason.
From the start, the Monumental Loop has been a community driven grassroots effort. What started as a simple idea, to connect all four units of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, blossomed into a series of weekly rides (Gravalerxs), an adventure speaker series (Monumental Talks), and a bunch of beginner friendly campouts. Las Cruces is now on the map for bikepackers and many locals have discovered new routes and the joys of riding from home to camp on the surrounding public lands. Our goal of achieving permanent protection and route signage remains unfulfilled, but the community has embraced the Loop as a valuable asset.
Pablo and I are grateful for the support from everyone that has pitched in to help us along the way. There’s far too many names to mention, but if you’ve been on a gravel ride, overnighter, or attended a talk, we’re grateful for the support!
While plenty is uncertain right now, we’re looking forward to bringing y’all more events, rides, and talks soon. We’ve got some family friendly campouts, a gravel adventure ride/race, and more in the works. Here’s a few helpful links to learn more about our lovely community and, if you’re able, show some love to our partners.
*Outdoor Adventures The place to go for route information, gear, advice, and community
https://www.bikelc.com
*Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Friends are on the frontlines of protecting and providing access to the public lands around Las Cruces.
https://organmountainsdesertpeaks.org
*Southern New Mexico Trail AllianceSNMTA works tirelessly on advocating for new trails, maintaining current trails, and hosting the Sierra Vista Trail Runs.
https://snmta.org
*Doña Ana SheWolves A group of FTW riders providing support and community. Several of their crew are certified bike instructors and their skills clinics are highly recommended.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthernNMDirtGirls/?ref=share
*MTB New Mexico Jose Solis has a YouTube channel and rides centered on a welcoming environment for beginner mountain bikers. MTB NM’s videos are equally informative and entertaining.
https://youtube.com/c/MTBNewMexico
These episodes aren’t possible without your support. This episode is the result of my recently podcasting trip covering 2,500 miles, 2 states, and 3 interviews in 4.5 days. If you’ve been on the fence about becoming a Patron this would be a great time to sign up and help get BoD back on the road! You can Sign Up here or leave a one time Donation on Paypal.
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