Crest Road is clearing up FINALLY!

[NinjaHarHar]

I FINALLY ventured up the Crest this morning on the ol' VFR, through copious amounts of fog.  The temperature was OK, roads were wet but there was no traffic and hardly any sand left.  Looks like all the rain is making itself useful and washing the roads pretty well. 

I only went halfway and turned around just past the ski area but the roads were good and it felt so good to get back up there!  It looks like you could probably go several more miles up the hill before running into any sand but overall I was surprised how clean it is.  Very green -- the mountain is going to be beautiful this summer. 

For your viewing pleasure...

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9523/foggy.jpg

[Cloner]

After KB, Karl, Dave, and Adam headed home from PJ's, I thought I'd take one more scope up 66 to look for the 1098R's license plate, so I headed for Tijeras.  Since I had gotten that far I figured a scoot up the Crest Road was in order, so I rode to the top.

The road has suffered a rough winter.  There are some potholes (some roughly patched, some not) below the ski area.  There are lots of pot holes (some roughly patched, some not) above the ski area.  There has also been some heaving in the areas prone to freezing, which are also some of the more technical shaded turns.  The road is mostly clear of sand and debris.  There were a few areas near the top of the Crest where there was sand to the inside of turns, and one spot with sand on the outside of a right hander and conversely the inside of the same turn coming back down as a left hander.  There was recently a tree in the road about 3/4 of the way up, but it has been cleared from the roadway except for some bark debris and limbs.  The water table must be up, as there were areas where water is seeping up through the road all the way to the top.

All-in-all, the road is probably 75%.  It's still the funnest game in town.  We might try to schedule more rides further north this year, though, unless someone repaves the Crest road.  Taos.  64.  Jemez.  Maybe 191/666 to the Southwest?

[Diavolo]

I went up Thursday.  Looks like all the potholes are patched on the up side and only a few miles on the down side.  Still pretty dirty the last 3 miles up, when I went.

The Blackbird is a heavy girl, but she still did a number on her chicken strips.  Haven't pushed her to the point that her front end can't take it this year, but it's still early...

[kingbaby]

I rode the bicycle up the crest yesterday afternoon (Thanks, Katz, from Specialized bikes for giving me an 11k bike with gears & brakes for the day).   The road is rough ...ta' say the least.  Big snow year means lots of plowing happened.  Everyone, please be very cautious. Just because every obstacle may not all be 3in. pot hole, doesn't mean the road isn't trashed.



The Crest is a great place to ride. People can only dream of having that road in their backyard.  Don't abuse it...It's not a race track.

[DucMouse the Mighty]

The Crest is a great place to ride. People can only dream of having that road in their backyard.  Don't abuse it...It's not a race track.

i just thought of something that would be soo cool and sooo much fun to do....now if i can try and find the video when i get home.....

[Twomilehigh]

Aye the road is in pretty fair condition, there was an oil slick in the downhill lane at the end of the last passing zone going up. I went up late Sunday afternoon. Sorry I missed the ride, was up till 3am brewing a new Imperial IPA. Anyway, here's the vid of the road Sandia Crest 1st Ride 2010.mov It's sped way up for time.

[DucMouse the Mighty]

Aye the road is in pretty fair condition, there was an oil slick in the downhill lane at the end of the last passing zone going up. I went up late Sunday afternoon. Sorry I missed the ride, was up till 3am brewing a new Imperial IPA. Anyway,

your gonna share this IPA 


so this what i was thinking

THE CORNER-Project Sliders 3.m4v

i could sear there was cooler video with them going down a mt...but i cant seem find it...but u get the idea 

[Cloner]

...It's sped way up for time.

That's sped up?  Jeez!   

[Zaster]

That's sped up?  Jeez!  

By all means:
To do the Crest up and back  in 6:16 min he would have had
to average 268 mph...didn't know his bike is that fast...let alone that minivan
Great video Bill