If you're looking for a good climb, the ride up to Sandia Crest is calling your name! Enjoy this ride up along the Sandia Crest Highway, which is fairly free of traffic and you generally have a good shoulder to ride on. The majority of the ride goes through Cibola National Forest, where you will be riding through pinon-juniper up to high alpine forests. Once you get to the top, not only will you feel accomplished, but you will get an amazing 360 degree view of the Rio Grande, Jemez Mountains and more, all while standing at 10,678 feet. The decent back to your starting point is always enjoyable as well.

The High Road to Taos is one of the most popular scenic drives in the state, passing by 18th century Spanish villages, with beautiful churches and housing local artisans. Once you make it past Highway 84/285 you will be on rural back roads with little traffic, but be careful on this stretch of the highway, as it is busy. You will pass by the Rio Nambe, with big cottonwood trees and high desert plateaus, apple orchards, views of Truchas Peak and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, and churches galore. This is a one-way route, so set up a shuttle. Twin Hearts Express, located in Taos, will drop off or pick up in either city at any area lodging and runs every two hours - give them a call to set something up.

Beginning at the outlet malls along Route 35 this short cruise through the Texas countryside takes you through some of the more pleasant areas to be found just south of Austin. Surrounded by farms, this is a fairly low traffic area, and the route is relatively flat with a few small climbs. A 12 and 36 mile option exist, depending on your aspirations, enthusiasm, and fitness level, so choose the route that's right for you.

This scenic highway is an out-and-back ride, but can also be set up as a shuttle, with a car up at Cloudcroft and one down at the Sunspot Visitors Center & National Solar Observatory. This ride will give you a good cardiac workout, as it is full of climbing, twists and turns, and is around 9000 ft elevation. Most of the road has wide shoulders and the traffic is very low, so the ride should be quite enjoyable. You have a good chance of seeing wildlife, like deer and elk, along the route, and a great view the entire way out to White Sands National Monument. Be prepared for summer rain showers and thunderstorms.

Endorsed and enjoyed by the Lubbock Bike Club, this ride through the wilderness east of the city passes along Buffalo Springs Lake and through Ransom Canyon. This ride has three fairly significant climbs as it falls and climbs between 100 and 200 feet in under a mile with slopes pushing above 10% grade, though otherwise this route is fairly flat. Most of this route will have low traffic, but one section on the return is along a busier highway.

If you’re looking for a good, long ride in the Lubbock area, this is the one for you. The overall route has a little up and down with several small ups and downs within, but for the most part as you ride this route you’ll find it flat as a couple hundred feet over 83 miles is insignificant. This doesn’t quite meet the century ride mark, but a short extension will do it if that’s your goal. This route is along rural roads and should be low traffic.

Running the paved length of South Padre Island, this is a great ride for those who want a fun seek adventure atop a bicycle. Starting the southernmost point of South Padre Island, this route runs through the settled area and then north into the dunes where you're surrounded only by sand and sea. Pack your own water as the ocean brine is not fit to drink. Most adventurers will choose to do this as an out and back trip, which doubles the distance, but as this route is completely flat, this is a very doable ride.

A favorite spot for serious bikers, Hill country is known for its superb biking tours. One local favorite known as the Hill Country Challenge takes you North from Fredericksburg near the Enchanted Rock, one of Texas's most beautiful and famous geologic formations, measure at 1 billion years old. At over 50 miles long, including one serious climb and a few minor, this is a great touring route, but be sure to be in shape before trying to tackle this one.

At over 55 miles and with plenty of hills to climb, a few of which are significant, this is one of the more challenging country road routes in central Texas. With plenty of history and beautiful country, this is also one of the most enjoyable tours you can take on a bike. Road bikers especially will love the very low traffic through the rural route of Mormon Mill Road, where a stone quarry, ranches, and hunting grounds remain the primary uses of land in this area.

A metric century is a 100 km ride which is popular with road bikers. At over 60 miles there is plenty of challenge in the length of this course, but that isn't all. The first 20 miles of this course offer a lot in the way of challenging climbs, which though not especially steep, are somewhat long sections that are sure to give you a workout. After the initial challenge of the first climb which rises over 500 feet, the back two thirds of this ride is a gentle downhill slope to make the finishing portions of this ride nice and easy.